From Togo to Philadelphia, Soldier pursues unique opportunity

Photo By Staff Sgt. Oriana White | U.S. Army Spc. Kossi Egui with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania National Guard, came to the United States from the Togolese Republic in West Africa in 2017 through a program called the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery and joined the United States Army as a motor transport operator in 2019. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2020 and used his skills acquired in the National Guard to get his commercial driver’s license and become a civilian truck driver. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Oriana White)  

ALLENTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES

02.07.2023

Story by Staff Sgt. Oriana White 

109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Every year, approximately 11.8 million hopeful people from around the globe apply to a program called the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery. For most of these people, winning this lottery is something they can only dream about.

U.S. Army Spc. Kossi Egui from the Togolese Republic in West Africa was one of these millions. Despite the odds stacked against him, Egui took a chance. He entered his name into the lottery hoping he could make his dream a reality.

In 2017, he won the lottery, and became a permanent resident of the United States along with 55,000 other green card winners. He jumped at the opportunity to build a new life in Philadelphia. In July 2019, he swore his oath of enlistment into the military as a motor transport operator for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 213th Regional Support Group based in Allentown, Pa.

The 29-year-old Soldier wears a serious expression, and his demeanor gives him an air of maturity that contradicts his young age. He is the oldest child in a family of six, and his three siblings look up to him as their role model and inspiration.

"If you're the eldest, you need to be responsible because all your brothers and sisters follow in your footsteps," said Egui. "Before you can tell your siblings how to act, you must set an example.”

Egui joined the Army because he wanted the challenge and became a truck driver because he loves to drive.

"I don't scare easily, but when I first thought about joining the Army, one of my cousins tried to convince me not to do it,” he said. “But when I got in, I saw how different military life is from the civilian lifestyle. Being in the military pushes you to be more responsible and disciplined, and your behavior needs to be clean. There's a lot of stuff I can't do. But I'm more qualified for every job I apply for than the civilians who apply.”

Egui said his father is one of the biggest motivators in his life.

"My dad says he knows who I'm going to be one day," he said. "Every day, he's behind me, pushing me to challenge myself."

Egui received his U.S. Naturalization in November 2020, which made him a U.S. citizen. He's looking forward to the next significant milestone of citizenship, getting his passport in April.

"People need to try something different that is out of their comfort zone," said Egui. "My advice is to join the Army."

Egui doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon. He recently got his commercial driver's license for work and drives big rigs for his civilian job.

"I try to do my best," said Egui. "And I keep moving forward so I can succeed."

• Date Taken: 02.07.2023
• Date Posted: 02.13.2023 13:29
• Story ID: 437989
• Location: ALLENTOWN, PA, US
• Hometown: ALLENTOWN, PA, US
• Hometown: PHILADELPHIA, PA, US