www.montereycountynow.com october 24-30, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 Several minutes later, as McCullough continues talking about Lahidji and his accomplishments, the corners of his mouth start to curl up— he’s smiling. “That’s what he does,” McCullough says. “That’s the impact he has, right there.” ■ ■ ■ Changiz Lahidji’s (pronounced Chang-geez La-heed-gee) improbable story is a series of superlatives. “You’re looking at the only person on the Earth that spent time in the Iranian Special Forces and 24 years in the [U.S.] Special Forces A-Team,” McCullough marvels. Lahidji writes in his 2018 book that he served on U.S. Special Forces A-Teams longer than anyone else in history, 24 years total. He went on to serve 12 more as a private contractor, completing over 100 combat missions in Afghanistan. He was wounded multiple times on the battlefield and while training. “It’s just an impossible story,” McCullough says. He likens Lahidji to Audie Murphy, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, who participated in major offensives against the Germans. Like Murphy, Lahidji served in numerous major U.S. military events, including the Iranian hostage crisis, U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada, first Gulf War and Black Hawk Down (the Battle of Mogadishu). Lahidji grew up in Iran, one of six children. His parents followed the teachings of the Prophet Zoraster, and he was taught Zoroastrianism’s main tenets, humata, hukta, huvarshta: good thoughts, good words, good deeds. He says his family was “nominally Muslim” and never went to mosque. (In the book he’s labeled as “the first Muslim Green Beret”—Lahidji indicates it was the publisher’s idea—but says he doesn’t consider himself to be Muslim and is quick to point out that Persians didn’t become Muslims until the Arabs invaded in the 7th century.) As a young boy, Lahidji dreamed of moving to the U.S., inspired by Hollywood movies. John Wayne was his hero and he loved Wayne’s Westerns like The Searchers and Rio Bravo, “and of course The Green Berets,” he recounts in the book. Top: McCullough (left) says a traumatic brain injury has inhibited his ability to produce dopamine and serotonin, so he rarely smiles except around his wife and daughters, and now occasionally when hanging out with his new friend and fellow veteran, Lahidji. Bottom: Lahidji in his Pacific Grove home, where the walls are filled with memories and accolades from his 24 years in U.S. Army Special Forces and 12 years as a military contractor. He retired as a master sergeant. Opposite page: Changiz Lahidji (right) assists Steve McCullough as the two walk along Lovers Point, accompanied by McCullough’s service dog, Fergus. McCullough was severely injured in the line of duty and spends most of his time in bed, but since befriending Lahidji they’ve been going out on walks together.
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