Lance Cpl. Prashant Shah, a warehouse specialist with MEU Service Support Group 22, at Forward Operating Base Ripley, Afghanistan. (Photo, as it appears on www.usmc.mil)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan : A Marine from MEU Service Support Group 22 is using a unique gift to assist the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) with its mission in Afghanistan, according to a story posted on the official site of the U.S. Marines, www.usmc.mil.

For his efforts, Lance Cpl. Prashant Shah was recently awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for using his extraordinary linguistic skills to assist the MEU to overcome the language barrier between U.S. forces and Afghan locals at Forward Operating Base Ripley.

“Being proficient in several languages, he would coordinate with the drivers and explain to them what to do,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Braden, MSSG-22 Commanding Officer.

Shah speaks not two or three, but six languages –– English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu and Pashto. Many of Shah’s comrades initially didn’t believe his linguistic prowess –– until he started speaking with the natives. “They say I’m lying,” said Shah, speaking of when he talks to other Marines about his gift. “Then they say, ‘Alright, talk to this guy.’ Then I do.”

Part of his skill comes from his upbringing. Originally from Baroda, India, Shah came to Lincoln Park, N.J., in 2001 with his mother. India is a land of 14 official languages and even more dialects.

Many of the languages of the region are related, which allows Shah to pick up similarities between them quickly. Shah said he learned Urdu floating across the Atlantic on the way to Afghanistan by practicing with a fellow Marine who knew the language.

In speaking with the locals, Shah has found the presence of the Marine Corps and other coalition forces a reassuring factor in the lives of the Afghanis. “They like when we’re here because they’re not attacked,” said Shah. “We give jobs to the locals. I think we’re doing a great job. They also feel safe on the roads, especially the truck drivers, because we have checkpoints.

Shah is currently pursuing U.S. citizenship in hopes of becoming eligible for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) and perhaps one day becoming a Naval aviator.

(Compiled from the Internet by Varun Lamba)