A shared mourning ritual helped an American soldier and an Iraqi interpreter find common ground

Research on social bonding suggests that common traditions can foster connection not only within communities but also across cultural and religious boundaries.

By: Steve S. Medeiros, University of Connecticut, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 15, 2026

Words: 1,271

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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By Steve S. Medeiros, University of Connecticut

I met Mohammad in 2004 in Baghdad when we were both in our early 20s. I was an American soldier, and he was a local interpreter for my platoon during our 1-year deployment. Mohammad’s job was dangerous because Iraqis who worked with the Americans were targeted by insurgent forces.

So when I didn’t hear from him for a couple of weeks, I was worried and assumed the …

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