BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (March 27, 2014) -- Perhaps for the last time during major combat operations, 11 deployed service members from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, from nearly all points of Afghanistan, took the oath of citizenship during a naturalization ceremony here Wednesday.
P. Michael McKinley, deputy U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan; Karen Decker, Regional Command-East's senior civilian representative; and Command Sgt. Maj. Ray Lewis, Combined Joint Task Force-10 and 10th Mountain Division (LI) senior enlisted leader, along with many others in the audience, were on hand to congratulate the newest U.S. citizens.
"Today's ceremony, here in Bagram, Afghanistan, is uniquely inspiring and appropriate," Mc-Kinley said. "New York's Ellis Island is a part of America's history. Yet here in Afghanistan, you are making America's history, serving alongside your fellow Americans to defend our nation and assist the Afghan people in defending and rebuilding their country.
"Your children and grandchildren will open a textbook one day to learn how you contributed to America's freedom and security, as well as to that of Afghanistan, a country that is rebuilding after more than 30 years of conflict," he added.
Most of the service members traveled to the United States with their Families when they were very young, coming from countries such as Burma, Liberia, Philippines, Nigeria, Channel Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico.
Sgt. Auderald Pratt, a supply sergeant assigned to 705th Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Fort Polk, La., was born in Ghana, Africa, and grew up in Monroe, N.C.
Sgt. Jennifer Santos-Bryant, an automated logistical specialist assigned to 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, N.Y., hails from Mexico and grew up in Los Angeles.
Spc. Salome Denoon, a motor transport operator assigned to 1229th Transportation Company, Cade Amory, Baltimore, was born in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up in Baltimore.
Spc. Khun Hein, G Company, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, N.Y., was born in Burma and grew up in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Spc. Jack Launit, a human resources specialist assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany, was born in the Marshall Islands.
Spc. Gervert Sales, a cargo specialist with 23rd Ordnance Company, Grafenwoehr, Germany, was born in the Philippines and grew up in Apple Valley, Minn.
Spc. Cesar Silva-Sierra, a cargo specialist assigned to 51st Transportation Company, Grafenwoehr, Germany, was born in Honduras and grew up in Austell, Ga.
Spc. Victor Sobukunola, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany, was born in Nigeria, Africa, and grew up in Newark, N.J.
Pfc. David Aguilar-Garcia, a horizontal construction engineer assigned to the 124th Engineer Company, Saluda, S.C., was born in Mexico and grew up in Lexington, S.C.
Marine Sgt. Eduardo Gutierrez-Nava, stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., was born in Mexico and grew up in Oxnard, Calif.
Marine Sgt. John Lyle Jabalde from Twentynine Palms, Calif., was born in the Philippines and grew up in the Bronx, N.Y.
Hein, whose Family immigrated to Fort Wayne, Ind., from Burma in 2008, enlisted in the Army in 2012 to "serve and protect the United States." When he originally considered joining the Army, he said his Family all had their reservations due to his lack of English.
"After I made it, they were happy and really proud of me," he said.
Hein said becoming an American citizen is much more for him than a requirement -- it is just the first step in achieving his version of the American dream. Hein, who has five siblings, is only the second member of his Family to attain his U.S. citizenship.
For Santos-Bryant, the ceremony became even more emotional when she noticed her husband, Sgt. Jason Bryant, a member of A Company, 710th BSB, 3rd BCT, was in the audience. Although she was stoic throughout the ceremony, she could not hold back her tears when she saw him there.
"I just didn't expect him to be here," she said.
Bryant surprised his wife by flying into Bagram Airfield from Forward Operating Base Shank with his commander and executive officer.
"It was important for me to be here today to support my wife and make sure she had some support here since we?'re in Afghanistan and not the United States," Bryant said.
U.S. Customs and Immigration Services accepts naturalization applications from service members, veterans and their Families through their military service under Section 328 or 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The law normally allows service members to honorably serve for at least a year. During periods of hostilities, however, one may qualify to apply for citizenship with one day.
"There are a lot of things that we do, but this is the best thing that the USCIS does: naturalization overseas," said Pius Bannis, USCIS Bangkok District director. "It's a great feeling to come to a war zone. We feel great about those who are already serving and made that choice [to serve] before they became citizens."
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