Hero Joyner (front, far right) poses with six of her siblings and their mother (center) in the 1970s.

At the time this article was written the United States and Coalition troops were deeply involved in the liberation of Iraq. One of ASA's own was fortunate enough to escape the atrocities of the Saddam Hussein regime when she fled the area in the 1970s.

Hero Joyner, ASA-North Carolina executive director, grew up in Iraq as the middle child of seven boys and three girls. "For as long as I can remember, Saddam Hussein has been killing thousands of Kurdish people - using guns, bombs and chemical weapons. My father and three oldest brothers fought in the military against Hussein," said Joyner.

Joyner's father, a leading active member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, was notified by an informed neighbor that his family was the next to be arrested by Hussein's regime in the 1970s. It was time for the family to make its escape from Baghdad. "We left our home in the middle of the night, leaving everything in the house intact, so not to raise any suspicion that we were escaping," said Joyner.

The family split into two groups, one headed by Joyner's mother and the other led by an older brother. The two groups went separate ways and met in the city of Erbil. "We all met at a relative's house on the border of Erbil, where we hid for almost one month until we could find some men to help my oldest brothers bring our dad back from the mountains where he was hiding," said Joyner.

Joyner's 16-year-old brother found someone to help bring their family to the liberated Kurdish areas. After traveling by foot for almost two weeks with little food or water and Iraqi jets dropping bombs in their vicinity, the family arrived safe in Choman. "At the time, there was heavy fighting between the Iraqi government and the Kurdish fighters in Choman," said Joyner. As a result of the fighting, in 1974 Joyner, her mother and seven of the young children were sent to a safer area in Iranian Kurdistan.

In 1975, the Kurdish movement collapsed and the family had to leave Kurdistan for exile in Iran. "My oldest brother was the last family member to leave Kurdistan on March 11, 1975, with the last Kurdish ambulance," said Joyner.

In Iran, Joyner learned to speak Persian in order to attend school. "It wasn't difficult to master because it is similar to Arabic and Kurdish, my native language," said Joyner. The culture was also similar, making it easier for the family to adjust.

"In 1976, again because of war, we had to leave Iran, but we couldn't return to Iraq. My father applied for political asylum in the United States and we were accepted," said Joyner.

The family arrived in New York in June 1976. "The garbage collectors were on strike when we arrived. We had no idea what that meant; only that there was a lot of trash left on the streets," said Joyner. The family continued its journey to Raleigh, N.C., and then on to Greenville, N.C.

Joyner started the 10th grade a few weeks after arriving in Greenville. "I had to sink or swim," said Joyner. She had only one suit of clothes, which she wore the entire school year. "High school students weren't kind, helpful or understanding. English was a more difficult language to master compared to the other languages I had learned," said Joyner. "I could not understand why 'phone' was spelled 'ph' instead of with an 'f.' Or when people would say 'you're pulling my leg,' I just smiled, but thought to myself, 'I haven't touched you,'" she said.

Hero Joyner with her family: (l to r) Cameron, Spencer, Jeff and Kendall.

Adjusting to the American culture was very difficult for Joyner and her family, especially her father. "He was once a very highly respected figure, and then suddenly he was a political refugee. He was always so sad and missed his home country. Eventually, a heart attack claimed his life at a young age," Joyner said.

Once Joyner learned to speak, read and write English, things became easier for her. "I worked odd jobs to help support my younger siblings, while attending high school," she said.

Then, once again, Hussein was in the news. It was the Persian Gulf war. "I was a college student, majoring in computer science at the time. Those who didn't know us, judged us. I took my U.S. citizenship test and became an American citizen at the same time the Gulf war was being waged," said Joyner. Her husband, Jeff, was very proud of her and threw a big celebration party.

After receiving her citizenship, Joyner concentrated on her husband and family life. Today, the Joyners have three sons: Spencer, 15; Kendall, 13; and Cameron, 7.

In 1995, Joyner contacted ASA-North Carolina and offered to manage the association. Following a meeting and presentation to the ASA-North Carolina board of directors, Joyner was hired to handle the association's administration, including financial and meeting planning. ASA-North Carolina has renewed Joyner's contract every year. "The board has never made me feel like an 'employee or contractor.' They treat me like a family member, with such kindness and respect. I absolutely adore the board and the members," said Joyner.

As executive director of ASA-North Carolina, Joyner has worked diligently to improve the image of the automotive service professional. She is regularly in contact with the board of directors, always seeking ways to improve the association and the industry. The affiliate recently held, at the direction of Joyner, its second annual "SouthEast Automotive Trades Show." The two-day event offered management and technical education, as well as a trade show held in the Winston Cup Garage at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Joyner is as passionate about her work for ASA and the industry as she is for her family.

She has numerous family members still in Iraq. Joyner tries to stay in contact with them as much as possible and hopes for the best as Iraq is liberated.

"I am very lucky; so many didn't make it out of the country alive. I am also lucky to have attended college, marry the husband of my choosing, have three sons and work for the Automotive Service Association of North Carolina, where I've made wonderful friends. Last but not least, I am free," said Joyner.

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