Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr., deputy commanding general for operations of United States...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD — Soldier. American. Paratrooper. For 10 young men of the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, standing in a palace great-room at Camp Victory, Iraq, Feb. 15 was the day they became something else: citizens.
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby Jr., deputy commanding general of operations, U.S. Forces—Iraq, and commanding general of I Corps, hosted a naturalization ceremony in Al Faw Palace during which 107 Soldiers became citizens of the United States.
Based in Al Anbar province, the 10 paratroopers are part of an advise-and-assist brigade, a new type of unit specifically developed to assist in bringing Iraqi security forces to maturity and to help cement an enduring strategic partnership.
Along with a common mission, these paratroopers now share a common citizenship.
America's newest citizen-Soldiers, in their own words:
"It's a great day for my life. I will remember it forever. My original country is Syria. My name is Isa. Isa means Jesus. Can you imagine how hard it is to grow up with that name in Syria? In America, we have religious freedom. I got a new life today." — Spc. Isa Jubran, linguist, Company A, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
"I come from Sierra Leone. During the whole ceremony, I was thinking about my family. My parents are still in Africa. Africa is not the best place to be right now. I am doing this as much for them as for me. They have already done so much for me. This could make it easier for me to bring them [to the U.S.]." — Spc. Ojumiri Mammah, food service specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 307th Brigade Support Battalion
"My family came to the U.S. in 1991 from El Salvador. There was a civil war then, and people in my neighborhood were going missing. My dad's car got blown up. My parents moved first, and they split their sons among three aunts until they could afford plane tickets for each. I've been in America since I was five. I am 24 now. Nineteen years is a long time to wait." — Spc. Hector Tobar-Castaneda, medic, Company C, 307th BSB.
"I moved from Greece to California with my mother. I joined the Army because I needed a break from school to figure out what I really wanted to do, plus, I wanted the adrenalin rush of being a soldier. This is my second deployment to Baghdad. I see great changes in the last three years. Baghdad — I love it now. I feel more patriotic than ever." — Spc. Georgios Theocharis, infantryman, Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
"In Denmark, you have to join the army at 18. I moved here just before that, so it's a little strange coming into this Army. I wanted my citizenship because I want to go [Special Forces] and become a warrant officer. You can't do that without citizenship." — Spc. Casper Alsoft, combat medic, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment.
"I was born in Mexico. My family moved to Texas when I was three. I have always wanted to serve and protect people. I joined the Army for the training. I became a citizen today so that I can get a law-enforcement job someday." — Spc. Arturo Maint-Martinez, generator mechanic, Company E, 1-504th PIR.
"I was born in Mexico. My brothers and sisters are very happy for me because they know, as a citizen, I have better opportunities." — Spc. Victor Martin-Hurtado, truck driver, Company A, 307th BSB.
"Fourteen years ago, I moved with my family from Germany. With citizenship, I can get security clearances. That opens a lot of doors." — Sgt. James Hayes, Company E, 1-504th PIR.
"I came from Ukraine with five brothers and six sisters, same mom and same dad. I am fourth oldest. My dad wanted to give my family a better education, less 'street life.' There are not too many Ukrainians and Russians here today, but I don't feel left out or any different than anyone else. We're all Americans." — Pfc. Yaroslav Prikhodko, Company A, 307th BSB.
"I am the sponsor for the group. My job was to make sure they got to all their appointments on time. I'm a first-generation American myself. My parents came from Mexico years ago, and I was fortunate to be born [in the U.S.]. Not a lot of people go into another country and volunteer for their army in a time of war like these Soldiers did. I think it's a very honorable thing they have done." — Sgt. Alejandro Lucio, Sponsor, Company A, 307th BSB.
The naturalization ceremony was the 16th in Al Faw Palace since the beginning of the Iraq conflict.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.17.2010 08:48 |
| Story ID: | 45461 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 212 |
This work, Words from America's newest citizen-soldiers, by SGT Mike MacLeod, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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