COB ADDER, Iraq - For Spc. Adriana Chung of Alpha Company, 636th Brigade Support Battalion, becoming an American citizen is extremely exciting. Her story, however, is not one you would expect.
Chung speaks fluent Korean yet her citizenship is Argentinean. She speaks fluent English but very little Spanish. She often has to take a moment to explain why her history unusual.
"I was born in Argentina," she begins, "but only lived there a few months before my father brought us to America." Her father emigrated from South Korea to Argentina a number of years earlier and operated a clothing business. Shortly after Adriana was born, they moved to California where other members of her father's family were living. Ten years later they moved to Dallas, Texas, which is where Chung now calls home.
Chung had always thought about becoming a citizen, but had not become serious about it until the elections in 2008. Her younger sister, who had been born in the US, was able to vote and Chung was not. In addition, she could not obtain a clearance with the Army until she became naturalized.
Chung started her citizenship process at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, during mobilization with her company. A/636 BSB's First Sergeant, 1st Sgt. Warner Stadler helped coordinate with the personnel at Ft. Stewart for the proper forms and finger prints. When she arrived in Iraq, Pfc. Deseri Brewer, A/636 BSB's legal clerk, worked very hard to get the final items together so that Chung would be ready for her March 3rd naturalization ceremony.
During this process Chung's friends, neighbors, and family were all interviewed. "They asked all sorts of questions such as where I've lived, if I had any debts and if I've ever had membership in political groups," Chung said.
"The process was not as long or hard as I expected," she said. "I'm very happy and my parents are very excited for me."
The naturalization ceremony is scheduled for March 3rd in Baghdad.
STORY BY MAJ. DALE COPARANIS, 167TH CSSB PAO.
FOR QUERIES, CONTACT 3D SUSTAINMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT: ESCPAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL .
FOR HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS AND STORIES BY THE 3RD SUSTAINMENT COMMAND, PLEASE CONTACT THE DIGITAL VIDEO AND IMAGERY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BY CALLING (678) 421-6612 OR ACCESS THEM ON-LINE AT WWW.DVIDSHUB.NET/COMMANDS/30.
Social Sharing