America's North Shore Journal » Immigration
Military service a testimony of faith
You may have guessed by his accent that Chaplain (Maj.) David Waweru is not native to the United States of America. But, where is he from? How did he find himself serving in the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom? “I was born and raised in Kenya, Africa, in a small village about 20 miles west of the capital city of Nairobi,” Waweru, the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade chaplain. “I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military, Religion
Back to Africa – the Land of Opportunity
It was during a recent civil affairs mission through Djibouti, Africa, that U.S. Army Reserve Corporal Kwami Koto was able to truly articulate his connection to this continent and its people. “You see those kids playing soccer, barefoot,” the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa Civil Affairs team 4902 information manager said to his team chief as their vehicle passed by children running around on a dirt field. “That used to be me.” Koto, a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military
Illegal Immigration and Poverty in America 2010
The Census Bureau has released the 2010 report on poverty in America. It is difficult to discover anything but estimates on the number of non-citizens living in the United States. Some of these are legal residents. Others have overstayed visas or just crossed the border without documentation. In its annual report, the Census Bureau attempts to estimate this data and the number of non-citizens living in poverty. These are estimates and could be off by hundreds of … Read entire article »
Filed under: American Economy, Immigration, Original writing, Poverty, Reporting
Our Best: Staff Sgt. Happiness Aghedo
Staff Sgt. Happiness Aghedo never dreamed about joining the United States Army as a child. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Aghedo, a logistician assigned to Headquarters Company, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, said she had all she ever wanted in her birth country. One of twelve children, Aghedo grew up in a loving family that placed education as a high priority. Aghedo was pursuing her degree in International Studies at Ambrose Ally University in Ekpomo, Nigeria, when she received jarring news. She had the chance to go to America. “Every year, Nigeria has a lottery for visas to the U.S.,” she said. “My uncle always played for me. When my number came up, my family was very excited, but I didn’t want to go.” Aghedo had planned to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military, Our Best: Military Women
Pfc. Guy A. Eugene – U.S. citizen
He never imagined leaving Haiti four years ago. He never imagined putting on a U.S. Army uniform three years ago. Pfc. Guy A. Eugene, mechanic, 529th Network Support Company, deployed from Fort Sill, Okla., attached to 377th Theater Sustainment Command also never would have imagined that on May 20, he would raise his right hand and become a U.S. citizen on the U.S. Embassy steps in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. “Today is the first [naturalization] ceremony in Haiti and it is fitting that it takes place in May, because May is national military appreciation month,” said Mari-Carmen Jordan, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services deputy district director for Latin American and Caribbean region. “As you can see, USCIS brings immigration services to the military wherever they serve. Pius Bannis, director of USCIS’ field office in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military
Immigrants From Opposite Sides of War-torn Country Become Citizens Together
The two men — one a Christian from the south, the other a Muslim from the north — have nothing against each other, despite the past which tore their homeland of Sudan apart for more than 20 years during a civil war. Today they are deployed together in Iraq with the U.S. Army, where they work with the same unit as interpreters. Despite Sudan’s violent, the two men share a bright future ““ both became naturalized U.S. citizens in a ceremony at Al Faw Palace, Baghdad, March 3. “I love my job, and I love my new country,” said Spc. Marlesh Mbory, an assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “I’m grateful to be American.” Now married with two children, Mbory moved to the United States … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military
Sudanese Refugee Is US Army Soldier
A former war refugee traveled across countries and continents in search of a better life — a remarkable journey that ended in the United States when he became a U.S. citizen and a soldier. Army Spc. Samuel Ladu, 20, a translator with the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, grew up in Sudan during the country’s second civil war, and vividly remembers his life during that time. “It was miserable because of the war,” Ladu said. “We were living to survive. From day to day, if we woke up in the morning, we thanked God.” Ladu called a small farming community on the fringes of Juba, Sudan, his home for about 20 years. Ladu and his family were surrounded by two fighting factions. “In the city, there were bombings every day,” Ladu … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military
Proud to Be an American
It’s not uncommon for Army units to have Soldiers striving to earn their United States citizenship. After all, the Army has made earning citizenship a recruiting incentive for enlistment. Eight Soldiers from 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, are earning their United States citizenship while deployed in Iraq. The Soldiers differ in age, gender, and job but their drive to become U.S. citizens unites them. All see the U.S. as an opportunity for something better, and are willing to fight and die for the right to call it home. Specialist Tarikawe Daniel’s story is just one of several equally powerful stories of a quest for U.S. citizenship. “I’ll be proud to be an American and all the opportunities that it will offer,” said Daniel, from Arlington, Va., a Combat … Read entire article »
Filed under: Immigration, Military
Coming Soon: Future Posts
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- USS President vs HMS Belvidera (in 134 days)
- General Hull Invades Canada (in 153 days)
- First Battle of Sacketts Harbor (in 160 days)
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- Nebraska Nuke Plant Placed on Special Inspection Status
- Radioactive Water Leaks at Japanese Nuke Site
- Japan Damaged Nuke Plants Still Not Under Control
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