Posted on 08/03/2004 5:50:36 PM PDT by mdittmar
Soldier Who Lost Right Leg to Roadside Bomb in Iraq War Sworn in As U.S. Citizen
When a roadside bomb exploded beside him in Iraq, Army Staff Sgt. Hilbert Caesar lost his right leg serving the country he had adopted as a boy. On Tuesday, the United States officially adopted him.
Using a cane, Caesar rose gingerly to take the oath of citizenship along with 33 others from 27 countries, including two other Iraq war veterans. Each new citizen was given a certificate and a small American flag.
Caesar said the ceremony, presided over by Eduardo Aguirre, head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, simply formalized what he's known for a long time.
"I knew I was an American before this. I've always been an American," he said.
Caesar was born in Guyana, South America's only English-speaking country, and moved to the United States with his parents when he was 11, settling in New York City. He joined the Army six years ago, when he was 20.
Caesar was riding in a convoy in Baghdad last April when a roadside bomb detonated. He's spent the months since recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Caesar is matter-of-fact about his wounds.
"I'm a soldier, and this kind of stuff happens," said Caesar, who hopes to continue his military career after he leaves the hospital. "Injuries happen."
There are roughly 37,000 immigrant soldiers, sailors and airmen in the armed forces. President Bush signed a 2002 executive order expediting citizenship applications for them.
Before the order, immigrants in the military had to serve three years before they could apply to become citizens. The executive order allows them to apply upon induction. Since then, some 8,000 military personnel have been granted citizenship, immigration officials said.
Four other military personnel became citizens with Caesar, as did an Iraqi Kurd, Hassan Fawzi Hassan. The 34-year-old works as a defense contractor and is headed back to Iraq to work on the rebuilding effort.
Army Spc. Reyes Hernandez, another Iraq war veteran, also became a citizen. Hernandez was born in El Salvador and moved to Paterson, N.J., when he was 6. He served 15 months in Baghdad, where he was among six foreign nationals in his platoon.
While many immigrants join the military with hopes of speeding their naturalization, Hernandez, 22, said his main goal was to use the citizenship to advance his military career.
"In the military, being a citizen helps you move up in the ranks. It opens a lot of doors," said Hernandez, who wants to become a New York City police detective after his military career ends.
bttt
Questions:
1. How does the loss of a leg affect his future in the Army.
2. How would said injury affect his chances of being a cop?
Thanks to those who might know!
Sgt., we are proud to call you an American.
Very proud!
And citizenship for service seemed to work for Rome; it works for us.
He was always an American. I wish good things to him in his life and his way made smooth for his hardship.
Looks like the first man, Ceasar, who lost his leg, wants to stay in the military. I am sure they will keep him.
The other fellow, Hernandez, is the one who wants to become a cop after he moves thru the military. Most college kids right now are told the best way to enter the field of criminal justice is to go into the Army, BTW, ...
It's about time. Every soldier who is fighting for America should get citizenship. However, in the future, only citizens should be allowed in the U.S. Army.
Here's wishing Sgt. Caesar a very long and very happy and very rich and rewarding life as an American citizen. He's done far more than any liberal ever will to deserve that reward.
Welcome home citizens.
Well, my friend...
Every male 18-26 who wants to become a legal permanent resident of the United States has to register with the Selective Service upon arriving, besides being made to sign a promise to register at the consulate/embassy before being issued the visa.
Furthermore, not being a citizen isn't a exclusion for military service in conventional wartime anymore.
Bush is missing out on a great photo op. He should have flown those boys home and administered the oath himself on the South Lawn.
Yes. Citizenship which is earned would be far better than the way we're handing it out now. If someone is willing to give to this country they should be moved to the front of the line --- ahead of those who come only to take.
...which shows the difference between him and clinton.
Clinton would do anything for a photo op.
That would have been called grandstanding. He should have done it in private. It would have leaked anyway. The soldier could have had pictures taken and then they would have gotten out there.
Now what could I say about, oh, Michael Moore? Bah. Ain't worth saying. I'd rather say "Hilbert Caesar, Real American Hero."
I'm thinking desk job, but I dunno.
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