Photo By Sgt. Edwin Gray | Service members receive American citizenship and are welcomed with a video by...... read more read more
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VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq — In a perfect world, the American dream would be most people’s reality, but to some, it is still merely a dream. An 11-year-old, along with his mother, from Duesseldorf, Germany, visited America in 1988 for the first time.
He identified with the American dream so much that at one moment, he looked at his mother and said, “I will move here one day.” The 11-year-old was Raphael Oosterhuis, now a specialist with the 370th Transportation Company, 394th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).
Oosterhuis, along with 52 other U.S. service members from 31 different countries, became U.S. citizens at the United States Forces-Iraq Naturalization Ceremony Feb. 21 in Al-Faw Palace at Victory Base Complex, Iraq.
“America is known for having one of the most diverse cultures in the world,” said Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general of USF-I. “The United States has citizens who represent nearly every religion, ethnic background and culture. Our diversity gives us strength.”
After the horrendous attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, more than 64,000 service members took the oath while serving in the U.S. military. The attacks made many foreigners want to be a part of the U.S.
“I wanted to help in the war on terror,” said Oosterhuis. “The attacks made me love the U.S. even more. It really united the Western world.”
Many U.S. service members are from several different countries, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Taking the oath of citizenship while deployed grants these service members the American freedoms they serve to protect.
“I always wanted to join the U.S. Army when I moved to America in 2004,” said Oosterhuis. “I want to be an officer, and only my citizenship and a few college credit hours are in the way of me becoming one.”
Including Oosterhuis, five soldiers with units under the 103rd ESC took the oath of citizenship: Sgt. Vera Castullo with the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Spc. Agosto Hector with the 224th Sustainment Brigade, Pfc. Lopez Arnul Londondo with the 220th Transportation Company, 394th CSSB, and Pfc. Won Kim, a cashier with the 2-9th Financial Management Detachment, 24th Financial Management Company.
“I lived in Seoul, Korea, until I was 24 years old, and for that time I lived a normal life,” said Kim.“ But there is no better place to live than the U.S. There are many benefits to being a citizen of such a great nation.” Kim now lives in Los Angeles.
Being an American citizen is the first step to obtaining the American dream and making it a reality. All 52 service members defended the liberties of a nation that, until being naturalized, wasn’t their own.
“With my citizenship, I would be able to pursue my career and education goals,” said Oosterhuis. “I would gain a greater sense of belonging to this country and most importantly, it would be my lifetime dream come true.”
It was the 19th naturalization ceremony held in Iraq since 2001, and due to the massive drawdown of U.S. operations in Iraq, it could possibly be the last in Al-Faw Palace.
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2011 03:25 |
| Story ID: | 66554 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 195 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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