American Army pilot Kosovoer: From the refugee of war to the most powerful army in the world

Born in Kosovo, Albanian with American citizenship. From the refugee war to the most powerful army in the world, U.S. Army pilot. It's Valdata Mehanja, Lieutenant 2A, pilot in the Aviation Regiment 1-131.

She is now in Albania with the American Army to train with Albanian military forces.

I've never visited Albania before. It's an incredible feeling to be here, like a pilot, in uniform and in the US Army,” she said in an interview for the American Army site www.army.mil.

I would never have had this chance to fly through Albania if it wasn't the army. This experience just made me happy”.

Mehanja says this mission for him is “the completion of a” circle. She grew up poor and her family became war refugees. Years later, as a contractor for the Department of Defense, her motorcade traveling to Baghdad was ambushed by improvised explosives and gunshots.

However, she was rescued by American pilots and realized from there that it was what in the future would have to do the work of those who saved her.

This made me want to join the “aviation.

Mehanja has since achieved that goal and has become an UH-60 Black Hawk pilot for the US Army. She felt that the circle would soon be complete when she learned that 1-131 was going to Albania to participate in DEFANDER-Europe 21.

I was so excited. I couldn't believe the Guard unit I joined was going to Albania,” she said. I didn't realize how beautiful this place is until I flew around the mountains. I don't think I could have visited Albania in a better way. ”

Since arriving in Albania, Mehanja has flown into missions and served as a translator and cultural adviser to Americans and Albanians working together. She says she's been happy to take on additional duties.

“If we work together, we will be stronger” she explained.

Out of these tasks, Mehan has become somewhat famous. She has met hundreds of locals, interviewed by numerous media, met with the US ambassador. Yuri Kim and Albanian President Ilir Meta.

Her family is too proud of her.

It's a big thing. I don't think my mother, who was not allowed to go to school, would ever have thought that her daughter would shake hands with an Albanian president. My family is also proud that I have been able to come here as an American Army pilot and work with Albanians”.

In spite of all of this, she remains humble and hopes that her story will inspire others and help build friendships among the nations.

Anything is possible if you work hard for it. Only when you think you can't achieve something because travel is very difficult, does it not mean that it is impossible and that it will never happen,” she said. I was able to do this despite my chances. Anyone can do it too. I hope that everyone will be inspired to achieve their goals”, she has stated, broadcast Reporter.net.

Mehanja does not believe it would be so successful without the 1-131 Aviation Regiment and the Alabama National Guard.

I seriously have the best unit. I have the best commander. I was so lucky. They allowed me to have this experience, to be part of it. It was God's work and everyone here who made it possible, and I want to thank”, she declared.