76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers earn U.S. Citizenship in Iraq during mass ceremony

BAGHDAD, Iraq – As part of a mass naturalization ceremony on Monday with more than 190 Soldiers, six participants assigned to the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were among those who also took the oath.

Multi-National Corps Iraq commander, Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, lead the ceremony at Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory, as Lori Pietropaoli, deputy district director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services presented each Soldier a certificate of naturalization.

These Soldiers expressed their excitement just to be able to call each other American citizens and to do this all while serving their country overseas was a tremendous honor.
 

More than 190 Soldiers from bases all throughout Iraq join together as they prepare for the Multi-National Corp Iraq naturalization ceremony at Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory held September 1, 2008. The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team proudly sponsored six Soldiers during this event; a truly historical time for each. Photo by Sgt. Aaron Strader

The six members of the 76th IBCT who can now officially call themselves U.S. Citizens are:

Sgt. Rida Sihabmansour, 26, San Diego, Cal., and originally from Morocco, is a linguist with Headquarters, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed at Joint Base Balad.

“It’s been a dream since I was a kid; being a Soldier and becoming a U.S. citizen is amazing and something I will remember for the rest of my life,” Sihabmansour said. “This is going to open the door to a lot of opportunities for me. For instance last year I wanted to join the police department. You can’t do it if you are not a citizen so definitely I’m going to consider that when I get back.”

“It’s another huge opportunity to me,” he added.

Spc. Joe Harris, 28, Southgate, Mich., and originally from Iraq, is a linguist and an operations assistant with Headquarters, 113th Brigade Support Battalion stationed at Forward Operating Base Q-West.
“Just as of yesterday I was a different nationality, but today I became a United States citizen,” Harris said. “There are a lot of opportunities out there that has been opened already and hopefully, I can get registered soon to vote.”

Spc. Mohamed Elhilali, 37, Bristol, Ind., and originally from Morocco, is a human resources assistant with 1638th Transportation Company, Task Force 1-293rd Infantry Battalion stationed at Joint Base Balad.

“Before I joined I made a decision because I think and believe that we are doing something good and we’re trying to establish freedom and democracy for a peaceful world,” Elhilali said. “It is a big day for me and the happiest day of my life.”

Spc. Hau Len Thang, 23, Ft. Wayne, Ind., and originally from Myranmar, is vehicle driver/gunner with 1638th Transportation Company, Task Force 1-293rd Infantry Battalion stationed at Joint Base Balad.

“I joined the military to be in the finest military in the world and to have the experiences of facing different challenges,” Thang said. “Being a United States citizen comes with a lot of benefits that most people take for granted. The most important one that I feel is to be able to vote and have my voice heard. It’s a blessing, really!”
 


(from left to right) Spc. Luis G. Rocha, Sgt. Rida Sihabmansour, Spc. Arianne Jimenez and Spc. Joe Harris proudly pose for a picture as they prepare for the
Multi-National Corp Iraq naturalization ceremony at Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory. Photo by Sgt. Aaron Strader

Spc. Luis G. Rocha, 28, Indianapolis, Ind., and originally from Nicaragua, is gunner with Company C, Task Force 1-151st Infantry Battalion stationed at Forward Operating Base Q-West.

“I am grateful to be recognized overseas and I can’t say enough just how good I feel; it’s a good feeling,” Rocha said. “I’m glad to represent my company, Charlie, 1-151 and for the state of Indiana and also for my friends and family back home. One of the main things I want to do is visit my family back in Nicaragua because I can travel with a U.S. passport.” I feel very privileged.”

Spc. Arianne Jimenez, 24, Indianapolis, Ind., and originally from the Dominican Republic is a human resources assistant with Headquarters, 76th Special Troops Battalion stationed at Forward Operating Base Q-West.
 

“I have been waiting for this for a long time and it finally happened; it’s a big thing for me,” Jimenez said. “It is something that not everyone has a chance to do; only a certain percent of people can say they received their citizenship in Iraq.”

The 76th IBCT is well into its historic deployment, which is the largest for the Indiana National Guard since World War II. This ceremony marks one of many historical moments captured for its unit members and one that these Soldiers will remember for the rest of their lives.

Story by Capt. Lisa Kopczynski