Foreign-Born Soldiers Naturalized

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Foreign-Born Soldiers Naturalized

By Rob on July 30, 2005 at 10:07 am

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A total of 147 foreign-born US military personnel serving in Iraq gathered inside a former Saddam Hussein palace to be granted US citizenship.

In a mass ceremony the soldiers, sailors, and airmen, along with one marine and a navy medic, simultaneously raised their right hands and swore to "support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

Those sworn in as US citizens came from 46 countries, with the single largest group born in Mexico (27), followed by the Philippines (15), Jamaica (nine) and Nicaragua (eight) and Nigeria (five).

Other nations of origin included China, India, Taiwan and Vietnam. There was even one Iraqi-born soldier.

The ceremony, in the giant indoor rotunda of the Al-Faw palace, in Baghdad's Camp Victory military base, was led by Lieutenant General John Vines, the commander of the Multinational Corps in Iraq.

Welcome to America folks, and thank you for your service.

Comments

One of the most under-reported stories concerning of who consits in the U.S. military is that of non-U.S. citizens. I personally know a German citizen who is a U.S. Marine and when I asked him, around five years ago, if foreigners were in the U.S. military and to what percentages they were he responded that many foreigners are in the U.S. military. Prior to this I had never thought this was the case. Apparently it is well-known in some parts of the world that service in the U.S. military may help someone get citizenship. Because U.S. citizenship is highly wanted throughout the world and even in countries that are supposedly anti-American, this could be a big draw.

Chad Evans on July 30, 2005 at 11:08 am

We could have an all Chinese Army.

Americans have “other priorities”.

WOOF on July 30, 2005 at 01:07 pm

I am surprised that people are surprised about this. I stopped counting the foriegn nationals I do know, or have known, who are, or have been, in the US military when I reached 73. It has been going on since the founding of our nation. And pretty much every other nation in recorded history. And one I fully approve of.

2Hotel9 on July 30, 2005 at 04:08 pm

I served with a couple of metric shitloads of foreign nationals seeking U.S.A. citizenship during my 9.5 years in, and almost to a man they were top notch. I’d serve with them any day, and I’m proud that our country attracts such a high caliber of person willing to make that kind of commitment.

Mr. Bowen on July 30, 2005 at 05:07 pm

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