Photo By Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Lance Cpl. Kevin Bullimore, a personnel clerk with Regimental Combat Team 8, gathers...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Nimroz province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - America is the land of opportunity. The country was established by immigrants coming and creating a new life for themselves, and that tradition is still alive today.
Lance Cpl. Andrew Bullimore, a personnel clerk with Regimental Combat Team 8, has been an American for nearly four months, despite having lived in the United States from the age of 10. His motivation to finalize his citizenship sprung from his desire to serve overseas and serve alongside his fellow Marines in Afghanistan.
Bullimore was born and raised in Bombay, India. At the age of 10, his mother found an American company to hire her and sponsor her for naturalization in exchange for working as a nurse. Already removed from his father, Bullimore and his mother began their lives anew in Gaithersburg, Md., and grew up in Easton, Pa.
“When we first moved to Maryland, the first couple days I went to school it was a little different. I would say that it took me the first year of living here and I finally got used to the life. Ever since then, I love it out here.”
In his sophomore year at Wilson Area High School, Bullimore became stricken with the idea of becoming a United States Marine.
When he graduated, he went through the enlistment process. After completing recruit training in December 2009, he joined the ranks of the Marines. He was serving in the country’s armed services, but still wasn’t a citizen, and couldn’t reach his full potential until he gained his citizenship.
“I didn’t know I wasn’t a citizen until I got to the regiment,” Bullimore said. “They told me I needed a secret clearance. I figured I didn’t have to apply for a citizenship since I joined the Marine Corps, but I was wrong.”
The opportunity arose for him to deploy to Afghanistan, one of the goals he wanted to accomplish within his first enlistment. In order for him to be able to deploy, Bullimore had to go through an expedited nationalization process. With assistance from the Marines Corps, he was able to receive his citizenship in a matter of months, as opposed to the average six years it would take to complete the process.
“Since I was deploying, this whole process took me about three months. Normally, if you’re not in the military and you’re a normal civilian, it takes you about six years to become an American civilian; it’s a long process. Since I was deploying and they were aware of the situation, it took me less than three months. I was a special case.”
For the most part, people around him didn’t realize that Bullimore was not a born American, despite his slight accent. He has worked diligently to set himself apart from those around him and rise above his peers.
“He is a good, young Marine who wants to do well and is not scared to learn new things,” said Sgt. Christopher Greenhalgh, RCT-8 administration clerk. “He acts like someone who cares about what he does, and he takes pride in his work.”
He finally gained his citizenship on Dec. 14, 2010, with just enough time to deploy in early January. He said he hopes he will be able to help his mother gain her citizenship as well.
The Marine Corps has allowed Bullimore to serve the country he loves, and his devotion to duty is never in question. In his eyes, he has always been a citizen.
“I have honestly claimed America as my country. I have not gone back to India since I have moved here,” added Bullimore.
Though it is unclear whether or not he will make a career out of the Marines, Bullimore said he considers himself an American first and is proud to serve the country that has helped him and his mother.
Coincidently, his current deployment to Afghanistan is the closest Bullimore has been to his birth nation since he left for America. The deployment offers a reminder of how far he and his family have come from their roots in India.
“Until you have lived in a third-world country and then you move to the States, you don’t know how good it is,” he explained.
Editors note: Regimental Combat Team 8 is assigned to Task Force Leatherneck and is currently supporting combat operations in Northern Helmand province. The task force, headed by 2nd Marine Division (Forward), is working in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2011 07:04 |
| Story ID: | 69618 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, NIMROZ PROVINCE, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF, AF |
| Web Views: | 163 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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