Amid a sea of other service members also taking the Oath of Citizenship, 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes (center), executive officer, Headquarters Service Battery, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, takes the last major step toward becoming a U.S. citizen, March 3, at al-Faw Palace. Barnes who is a native of Pohnpei, an island which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, claims Kaneohe, Hawaii as her hometown. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp

During the 13th naturalization ceremony conducted in Iraq, 251 Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from 65 different countries became American citizens in the rotunda of the Al Faw Palace March 3. The youngest participant was 19 and the oldest was 45.

The servicemembers, from places such as Micronesia, Vietnam and Columbia, were welcomed into the American fold on foreign soil where they’re defending the principles of their new home country.

“American citizenship means that we each commit ourselves to our community, to our state and to our country,” said Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, Multi-National Corps – Iraq. “It means that we participate in improving the quality of our society. It means exercising rights, respecting other’s rights and defending our own rights.”

Although the candidates have already been living in the United States and serving in its military, there is still a great deal to gain by becoming an American.

“We identify ourselves as ‘American’,” Austin said, “but, what does it mean to carry the title ‘American’?”

“It’s a blessing,” said Spc. Rosemarie Narvaez, Company B, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, and originally from the Philippines. “I get the right to vote which is something I’ve looked forward to doing.”

John Lafferty, district director for the United States Citizen and Immigration Service, based out of Rome, Italy, presents the certificate of U.S. citizenship to 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes, executive officer for Headquarters Service Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, March 3 at a ceremony held in al-Faw Palace. Barnes, who immigrated to Kaneohe, Hawaii from the Federated States of Micronesia, said she felt overwhelmed and grateful to receive her citizenship; fighting back tears during the ceremony.

“I’m glad I call America home,” said Spc. Daley Bornsztejn, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, and Australian by birth. “It’s great to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

The American hopefuls all overcame obstacles before beginning their quest for citizenship. From civil wars to famine to leaving loved ones behind, each of the newly naturalized servicemembers had to fight to get where they are today.

“It [citizenship] means something different for each person,” Austin said. For these men and women it depends on their individual journeys to this point. It depends on what they endured along the way.”

One new citizen, Spc. Regis Uwizeye from Rwanda, came to America as a refugee from the country’s civil wars, which claimed both his parents. Other countries he tried fleeing to, such as Congo and Kenya, were involved in civil war or civil unrest of their own. He applied for a program to bring refugees to America and was selected. Since then, America has offered a safe haven for Uwizeye.

“In America, I can sleep at night and I know the government won’t change overnight because of a military coup,” said Uwizeye, who is part of Troop B, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

The safety and future America represents give Uwizeye and other new citizens a strong sense of allegiance to their new homeland and a sense of responsibility to properly represent it.

“We [Americans] have to stand up to the challenge of being the strongest country in the world,” Uwizeye said.

MNF-I

Spc. Nixon Gabriel Collaguazo Munoz, that is. A neat story that is being repeated hundreds of times throughout the military. I suspect, though, that this is the first Nixon.

Spc. Nixon Gabriel Collaguazo Munoz wants to stay in the Army until he retires, but first he has to become a U.S. citizen.

The 22-year-old from Ecuador will become a U.S. citizen, along with many other Soldiers, during an upcoming naturalization ceremony in Baghdad at Victory Base, Iraq.

Munoz followed his mother to the U.S. in July 2002, and he joined the Army to repay the U.S. for all that it has done for him and his mother.

“[I joined] to serve and give back for what this country is giving me,” Munoz said.

Munoz drives heavy equipment transport vehicles for the Army in the 353rd Transportation Co., 30th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade. The 353rd Transportation Co. is an Army Reserve unit from Buffalo, Minn.

Munoz lived in Brooklyn Park, Minn., before the deployment. In his free time he reads science fiction books and plays video games.

Munoz said becoming a citizen has been a lifelong goal, and he’s grateful to everyone that’s helped him.

“I feel that I’ve accomplished what I’ve always wanted,” he said. “I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for making this possible.”

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Keith Anderson

Texas National Guard Soldier Pvt. Simone Garner, originally from Germany, is sworn in as a U.S. citizen during a naturalization ceremony at the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11, 2008 at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Garner is a parachute rigger with the 294th Quartermaster Company (Airborne) in Austin, Texas. Photo by Jeff Crawley

On a day when Americans exercised an extremely important democratic right, 186 U. S. servicemembers from across Iraq became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony here at Al Faw Palace, Nov. 4.

Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general, Multi-National Force – Iraq, presided over the ceremony and expressed his sincere appreciation for each and every new U.S. citizen, and the significance of becoming a citizen.

“Diverse as your backgrounds may be, you all now have one thing in common: you are all Americans,” Odierno said. “You represent the very best of all that our nation stands for: freedom, opportunity, equality and service.”

The ceremony was the 12th of its kind to be held in Iraq, but, for many troops, took on special meaning, as it occurred on Election Day for U.S. citizens. The newly naturalized servicemembers – from 60 different countries – have earned the right to vote for their new leaders.

“I’m excited to be able to vote,” said Spc. Ruth McKoy, supply specialist, 62nd Quartermaster Company, 553 Sustainment Brigade. “If something good comes out of a future election, I can say I had something to do with that. It’s like my voice is being heard now.”

McKoy, born in the West Indies, Jamaica, joined the Army in December 2002 and has since aspired to become an American citizen. After one unsuccessful application in Germany, McKoy decided to apply for citizenship a second time from Fort Hood, Texas, and finally achieved her goal.

For each and every new citizen, the ceremony was the chance of a lifetime, but words couldn’t fully explain the joy one servicemember felt.

Spc. Rasha Hennessy, linguist, 1st Higher Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, was born in Baghdad, just miles from where she took her oath of U.S. citizenship.

“Honestly, I can’t even think of how blessed I am to have this privilege,” Hennessy said. “It’s a great thing.”

Hennessy was ecstatic to receive her citizenship on such an important day for the U.S., and compared the freedoms she will have as a U. S. citizen against the tyranny she experienced under the Saddam regime years ago.

“It’s a really good opportunity to be able to vote freely and not live in fear,” Hennessy said.

Hennessy said she feels her job as a linguist is vital to the future of Iraq and the U.S., and in helping the two countries understand one another’s cultures to move forward in their partnership.

“I believe the translator has the ability to make things work for both sides,” Hennessy said. “When I interpret for [U.S. troops], it helps deliver the right message on why the U.S. is here in Iraq.”

Though these 186 servicemembers are brand new U.S. citizens, many of them have always felt the unity all Americans feel when serving in the military, and realize every servicemember is fighting for a common goal.

“We all play a big part in what’s going on over here,” McKoy said. “We’re doing everything we can to help Iraq gain its democracy.”

In the end, each servicemember walked away with a new sense of pride: the pride of being an American citizen.

MNF-I
(By Spc. Christopher M. Gaylord, Multi-National Corps – Iraq)

“For all of you, the oath of citizenship is more than a formality. And today, America is more than your home; it’s your country. This is one of the things that makes our country so unique. With a single oath, all at once you become as fully American as the most direct descendant of a founding father.” – President George W. Bush

Lance Cpl. Evan Eskharia, a basic water systems technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), received his United States citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at al-Faw Palace, Baghdad, April 12.

Receiving his U.S. citizenship in the war-torn country of his birth represents the culmination of his family’s determination and will to flee an oppressive regime and seek the freedoms and opportunities only offered in America.

“This is in my top three proudest days of my life,” said Eskharia, who lived in El Cajon, Calif., prior to joining the Marine Corps. “It’s up there with the birth of my son and receiving my eagle, globe and anchor.”

The naturalization ceremony was the largest outside the United States, with 259 service members from 71 different countries receiving their citizenship.

“It’s that feeling in your heart, that now you’re a U.S. citizen; it feels really good,” Eskharia added.

Fleeing Saddam
When Eskharia was 9 years old, he and his family fled Iraq to Turkey due to Saddam Hussein’s oppressive regime. At the time, when an Iraqi boy turned 16, he would be drafted into the Iraqi military. Having five male children, Eskharia’s mother and father decided they would rather leave the country than see their children become a part of Saddam’s tyranny.

“It was very difficult for my parents to leave everything behind,” explained Eskharia. “My parents wanted us to have a better life and better opportunities, so we left.”

Once the Eskharia family reached Turkey, the Turkish government placed them in a refugee camp in Istanbul for more than three years.

Eskharia remembers his time in the refugee camp as difficult; his family treated horribly, with clean water scarce, very little liberty to go outside and living with nine to 10 people in rooms built for three.

In 1993, the Eskharias applied for and received a green card from the United States. The family moved to California and started a new life as so many immigrants have done before them.

Even though the time in Turkey was hard for the Eskharia family, it made coming to the United States and enjoying the freedom afforded to Americans well worth it.

Paying back the United States
To repay the country who took he and his family in, Eskharia made a decision few American citizens and even fewer immigrants make – to join the United States Marine Corps.

“He’s (Eskharia) put in a lot of hard work to get into the Marine Corps and to get his naturalization,” said Eskharia’s brother-in-law, Sgt. Wendle F. Anderson, special intelligence systems administrator, MWSS-373, 3rd MAW (Fwd). “He feels that since America took him and his family in, he owes America a debt of gratitude and that’s why he joined the Marine Corps.”

While in the Marine Corps, Eskharia used his newfound brotherhood as a support system while applying for citizenship.

“It is a great feeling knowing you have the backup and support of the Marine Corps,” said Eskharia. “They are always there for help.”

Through deploying with the Marine Corps, Eskharia found himself back in the country of his birth.

“It feels good knowing that I can contribute to Iraq,” said Eskharia. “I do speak Arabic, not fluently, but I can still understand what people say and if Iraqis have a question, I can help them out and try to explain what is going on.”

Memories from the past
Though a lot has changed in the last 15 years, being in Iraq has brought back some childhood memories.

Currently stationed at al-Taqaddum, Eskharia remembers Lake Habbaniyah where he, his father and two brothers used to fish and swim.

“We drove by Lake Habbaniyah the other day and I was like, ‘Huh, I remember this lake,’” said Eskharia. “I remember the hills around there, but there is a lot of barbed wire and fences now that weren’t there before. It’s a lot different now.”

Conquering one of his life goals, Eskharia stays focused on his future. Speaking Aramaic, and with his knowledge of Arabic, Eskharia would like to go to military linguist school in Monterey, Calif., to hone his Arabic language skills and become a linguist for the Marine Corps.

“I feel he makes a great Marine; he’s a good person, a good father, a good husband and a good brother,” said Anderson, a Buffalo, Mo., native. “I think this is well deserved.”

“In my heart, this is what I’ve always wanted to do,” explained Eskharia. “I’ve wanted to be a U.S. citizen ever since we came to the states from Baghdad. It’s very important to me because it’s an accomplishment and an achievement in my life.”

DVIDS
By Cpl. Scott McAdam
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing