3 Iron Eagle Soldiers, 94 others become US citizens in Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. Sean Harriman | U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Karl W. Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, speaks during a naturalization ceremony held Jan. 29 at Kandahar Air Field. A total of 97 service members were officially recognized as U.S. citizens at the fifth naturalization ceremony held on KAF.  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

01.29.2011

Story by Sgt. Sean Harriman 

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Three soldiers from Company B, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, International Security Assistance Force, became citizens of the United States during a naturalization ceremony held on Kandahar Air Field, Jan. 29.

Naturalization is the act of gaining citizenship and nationality of a country who was not a citizen or national of that country at birth.

During the naturalization ceremony, the fifth one held on Kandahar Air Field, 94 other service members comprised of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines also became U.S. citizens.

The keynote speaker at the ceremony, the Honorable Karl W. Eikenberry, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, gave a brief history about Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alfred Rascon, an immigrant who served in the U.S. Army, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Vietnam. Rascon then went on to serve in a number of public offices including in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the former Immigration and Naturalization Service.

"You are, here and now, serving our country and our fellow citizens with the same measure of devotion that Rascon displayed in Vietnam," said Eikenberry. "I hope that you will strongly consider following in Rascon's footsteps by committing yourselves to long and vibrant careers in public service."

U.S. Army Pfc. Touwana Gulliver, 23, a supply specialist from Guyana, South America, had been working on her naturalization paperwork since her last deployment with 4th CAB.

"There are more opportunities in America," Gulliver said. "Now I am able to vote."

Robert V. Looney, district director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, administered the Oath of Allegiance, the final step before becoming a U.S. citizen.

"The ceremony is intended to make these men and women feel proud about U.S. citizenship and will inspire them to continue to be incredible citizens," Looney said.

U.S. Army Spc. Hiren K. Patel, 26, an aircraft structural repairmen of Indian descent from Zambia, Africa, said that becoming a U.S. citizen was something he had thought about since childhood.

"It feels good," Patel said. "Certain doors open, you gain certain rights. Watching television in a third world country and thinking about becoming a U.S. citizen and joining the military was a dream of mine."

After the recitation of the oath, all 97 service members stood to receive their certificate of citizenship, returning to their seats as official U.S. citizens.

"I'm going to settle in the United States," he said about his future plans, adding he would raise his kids there.

Gulliver and Patel, along with U.S. Army Sgt. Min Choi, 25, a transmission repairmen in Company B, 404th ASB, 4th CAB, from South Korea, began their military careers as citizens of varying countries but will end it as citizens of the United States of America.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2011
• Date Posted: 02.01.2011 03:14
• Story ID: 64571
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF