Joining the ranks

IRAQ

11.06.2008

Story by Sgt. Maj. William Byrd II 

44th Medical Brigade

For someone born in the U.S., the laundry list of requirements, do's and don'ts for becoming a citizen of this country would seem daunting, if not downright scary. But that's what some believe separates Americans from the rest of the world – a determination, a perseverance to reach for the stars with such fervency as to not be denied their goals. That, plus the lure of the freedoms U.S. citizens enjoy.

Those are the same ideals that motivated three Task Force 44th MED Soldiers in their quest to become U.S. citizens. On Nov. 4, their journey ended, as they joined 183 other service members representing 60 countries who obtained their U.S. citizenship in a ceremony at Al Faw Palace.

Sgt. Jonathan Ortega, combat medic with the 115th Combat Support Hospital, Spc. Moustfa Abdalla, linguist manager for the 86th CSH, and Pfc. Diego Mesias, mental health specialist with the 98th Combat Stress Control, swore in as American citizens during the event, which saw speeches by Gen. Ray Odierno, commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

Ortega, who volunteered for this, his second Iraq tour, soon after he returned from his first, said that his voyage to become a citizen began when he was 8-years-old, when he left Acapulco, Mexico, for Los Angeles. After enduring most of the many prerequisites en route to becoming naturalized, he joined the Army. His packet moved much more swiftly through the system after that, as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services laws expedite members of the military seeking citizenship.

The process culminated, Nov. 4, and, like Abdalla, he was much relieved – and proud.
"It's a big goal accomplished, he said. "My mom is really happy. She got her citizenship about two months ago. Now I have mine, and now I'm waiting for my older brother to get his. It's just another goal completed for me. I have bigger goals ahead.

"There was just a lot of stuff going through my mind while I was out there [during the ceremony], just some really big emotions," he said. "I don't think it will really hit me until I see my mom, or talk to my mom about it. Other than that, it really hasn't hit me yet. It's like when you first deploy, and you think, 'I'm not in Iraq yet' and then it hits you, 'oh, I'm in Iraq.'"

For Abdalla, becoming a citizen is just one milestone, like Ortega, in a long line of goals.
"The most important thing to me is I can say that I'm an American, and now I get my rights as an American citizen – even though I have never had the feeling that I'm a green card holder," Abdalla said.

"I'm sure it will give me more privileges," Abdalla said, "and one of the most important privileges is applying for the security clearance, which is very important to me and my career as a 09L Soldier. That will give me more chances to have a better position. The most important thing, really, is the freedoms I will have."

Mesias, from Santiago, Chile, cherishes his new citizenship, and isn't the lone military member in his immediate family. "Becoming an American citizen is a blessing for me and my family," said Mesias, whose wife recently joined the Army as an Army nurse. "My daughter will submit an application for the U.S. Naval Academy next year.

I'm proud of my family serving in the military and we will carry on the tradition. Becoming a citizen is very important to me, because the U.S. represents the model of the world for democracy and freedom, and serving in the Army as a U.S. citizen, as part of this wonderful nation, which is now my country, is great.

"Being in the 98th CSC has been a really good experience for my career," his wife's stepfather, retired Air Force colonel Ernest Wilde, who has heavily influenced his life. His mentor, retired Army Col. Angela Clark, also "adopted: Mesias and contributed to his interest in the military.

"I joined the Army to serve the country that has been a blessing to me and my family, so I can give back some of what I have received, to the young Soldiers who don't have the experience of life. I am a 41-year-old Pfc. you know, so I believe I can share some life experiences with the younger Soldiers."

Col. John McGrath, commander of the 115th CSH, said that Ortega is the model soldier, and demonstrated a true commitment to becoming a U.S. citizen. Besides, he said, Ortega's father must have instilled that spirit in him as a youth.

"He is very proud to serve. This is really the culmination of his service so far," McGrath said. "I don't think you and I probably understand, we were born in the U.S. and had that right. When he tries to convey it to you, what becoming a U.S. citizen means, it means something more to him than I think we understand because we're natural born citizens.

"In that family, there's some dynamic that says 'I'm going to come to America, I'm going to be a part of this fabric,' whether it's serving – for him in the armed forces – and, becoming a U.S. citizen. It must be something his father bred in those kids."

Capt. Kay McKinnie, nutritionist and dietician for the 86th CSH who knows of Abdalla's impact on the unit, said he demonstrates professionalism in his job as linguist manager.

"Since he arrived to the unit, he has been such an asset," she said. "He stepped in as a new soldier [to the unit] and stepped up to the plate and has just done a fantastic job. I know that he is very proud to get his citizenship. He is a very proud individual, and this means a lot to him."

She said that he had a lot of help from people in the unit during the citizenship and naturalization process, but had his own resolve. "Abdalla is so motivated and such a smart guy, he doesn't need a whole lot of leading," she said. "He did a real good job of taking it upon himself to make sure everything was squared away.

"He is such a smart individual," she said. "I think that being in a military, when you are actually a member of that country [U.S.] it just fills you with a lot more pride, and if anything it will just make him have even more pride in what he does. I think he will want to help others get to that same point [naturalization] to become citizens of the United States and enjoy the same freedoms that we have, I think that will help motivate him to do that."

Abdalla, whose wife and daughter reside in New York, said he's not sure how much he will be able to help others attain U.S. citizenship, but will if called upon. He does know, though, that being a citizen will help him in his pursuit to either become an officer or a senior NCO – something he shares with one of his three brothers.

"I'm not the first one in my family, who became a U.S. citizen – my brother went through the same process, and he serves in the Army as a 09L like me," Abdalla said. "He got his citizenship in October 2007. All I know is my family is proud of me." Ortega, too, seeks to rise through the ranks.

"I reached this goal, now I have more goals," he said. "Not too much will change for me. I'm a Soldier and I'm always trying for new goals, to reach new heights, try to better myself." Spoken like a true American.

• Date Taken: 11.06.2008
• Date Posted: 03.01.2009 09:39
• Story ID: 30592
• Location: IQ