Nearly 8,000 miles separate Baghdad from San Diego, but for a young Iraqi girl, the promise of America never felt far away.
Born into a devoted and caring family, Star Bales and her siblings always felt happy and free inside their home in the Iraqi capital. Outside the house, however, she saw that her country lacked freedom on many levels – speech, religion and the press. A shadow of fear always hung oppressively just above the horizon.
After the country’s monarchy was overthrown in 1958, Iraqi fell under the iron rule of a succession of military dictatorships.
“School, where I spent most of my days, felt sad and prison-like,” said Star. “It was a place of punishment, not of learning. I dreamt of going to America. Two words I heard over and over from others that were always spoken together were America and freedom. I knew there was something special about America.”
Saddam Hussein came to power in the late 1970s. Under his brutal authority, Iraq operated like a totalitarian police state. Life was becoming increasingly unbearable.
“In 1979, the country was in bad shape,” remembered Star. “My younger sister had health issues and the doctors advised my father to send her to American for proper treatment.”
Star’s parents decided that she should accompany her sister to America. Safety in numbers they thought. She was only 16.
“Aug. 22, 1979, was the happiest day of my life,” said Star about first arriving in the United States. “We landed in New York and then continued to Sacramento. What a beautiful and magical world we entered. My new happy life had begun.”
While she diligently cared for her sister, ensuring she got to her numerous doctors’ appointments and counseling sessions, Star reveled in her new life in the United States. She quickly made new friends, her English improved and assimilating into a new culture was a breeze.
“I loved the melting-pot culture of freedom, kindness, prosperity and safety,” said Star. “Those qualities of life were missing in my old country. Freedom in America is truly unmatched anywhere in the world. It is what I cherish and enjoy most about America.”
She met a Navy sailor at a birthday party in the mid-1980s. A few years later they were married and started a family. Star’s new life in Southern California was busy.
A lover of painting and creating, she would later earn a degree in visual arts.
“My favorite subject was the American flag,” said Star. “Over the years, I have painted murals at churches, restaurants, military bases, schools, hotels and other places. The themes ranged from educational scenes of science to ones that were fun and uplifting.”
In 2007, Star found herself back in Iraq, this time as an American citizen working as a linguist and cultural adviser for the U.S. military.
“I had the profound honor of serving my country with the Army back in my homeland of Iraq,” said Star. “I felt like a true American who had sincerely pledged allegiance to the flag. I was proud to help our service members succeed in their mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
While she served her nation in Iraq, she also served her community back home. She’s held positions on both the El Cajon Planning Commission and City Council, as well as in other civic organizations.
“I felt a deep sense of responsibility and commitment,” said Star. “I dedicated a great deal of thought and effort to doing the job right, because the people I served were counting on me to do the right thing.”
Caring for veterans while volunteering for the American Legion Auxiliary was how she would later find the USS Midway Museum or, as one might surmise, Midway found her.
“In 2024, a representative from the Midway came to an American Legion post meeting to talk about opportunities to become a docent,” said Star, who has been volunteering at the museum for nearly two years. “A fellow post member, who was already a Midway volunteer, encouraged me to sign up. The Midway is all about freedom. It makes me happy to be part of keeping alive the legacy of the brave men who served on the ship. It’s because of their sacrifices that I, my family and my friends enjoy the freedom we have today.”
She finds being a Midway volunteer benefits her physical, mental and emotional health.
“My soul feels at peace at the Midway,” said Star, who has already amassed more than 1,500 volunteer hours as a docent. “It gives me a deep sense of accomplishment and pride. I get great joy in meeting my fellow docents who share the same passion and meaningful interactions with visitors from all over the world. I enjoy every single minute of it.”
For Star, giving back to her family, her community and new adopted nation has become an infectious way of life for nearly 50 years, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Volunteering is in my genes,” said Star with a smile. “Volunteering comes from the heart and from a compassionate spirit. Its energy and power makes a difference in other people’s lives. I highly recommend volunteering at the Midway for its endless opportunities and benefits.”
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