Yankton High School Student Shares Tragic past in Iraq

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Yankton High School senior Bashir Abdalkreem says he doesn't mind sharing the story of his family's tragic past in Iraq, but he's also trying to move on with life.

The Yankton Press & Dakotan reports that when the 17-year-old was only 7 and living in his native Iraq, his mother was shot and injured by terrorists in front of a US military compound.

Two years later, Abdalkreem's older brother was killed by armed men. His father was also kidnapped and ransomed, but never returned. Abdalkreem's remaining family fled to Syria before moving to the United States.

Since arriving in Yankton in 2007, he's found a spot on the high school's junior varsity football team, and continues to share his story with local church groups.

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