The hundreds of Iraqi interpreters who work for the U.S. military conceal their identities in distinctive ways. One wears a bulletproof Kevlar helmet and a black mask. Another wears sunglasses and a balaclava that covers his entire head.

What they share is the extraordinary danger of their job. Targeted for death by insurgents, they also face suspicion from their own employers and often lie to relatives for fear that word of their job will get out.

Yet the "terps," as they are known among U.S. troops, play a crucial and largely unheralded role in Iraq. As the United States shifts to trying to win the loyalty of Iraqis rather than simply waging war, their job goes well beyond translation to include passing on intelligence and educating troops on Iraq's religious and tribal tapestry.

I would imagine these people would be targets for insurgents who would likely seem them as traitors. Not only that, they can provide intelligence and translate in a country where language has been a huge barrier to U.S. and other troops. I hope these guys are rewarded well and more of them make it without getting shot or killed. They are risking so much to help improve their country.

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