America Supports You: German Officer Hopes to Join U.S. Marines

America Supports You ^ | Gerry Gilmore

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2006 -- A German army officer who has donated money to a group affiliated with DoD’s America Supports You organization plans to take a more personal role in confronting global terrorism.

German 1st. Lt. Jens Praetzas visits the gravesite of U.S. Army Capt. John R. Teal at Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 14. This is Praetzas' first visit to the U.S. He is an active member of Operation AC, which started out as a way to send air conditioners to deployed troops and has evolved into a non-profit charity organization designed to send care packages to deployed troops. Praetzas has donated $50 month since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has adopted 10 U.S. servicemembers through Operation AC. Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

German 1st Lt. Jens Praetzas, 30, said he wants to join the U.S. Marine Corps as an enlisted person after his contract with the German army ends around this time next year.

“Theoretically, its no problem” joining the Marines, Praetzas said during an interview yesterday with American Forces Press Service at the Pentagon. Praetzas was on leave from his army unit and had arrived in the United States on July 16 for his first visit here. He said he’d already discussed his wish with people at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

All freedom-loving people have a stake in the war against terrorism, Praetzas said. He added that he believes the conflict constitutes a struggle of democracy versus tyranny. He said his heart goes out to U.S. servicemembers who’ve paid the ultimate price for freedom while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“This terrorism could happen not only in the States, it could happen all over the world,” Praetzas said. “And, every country in the world which has got a democracy should take part in the war against terrorism.”

A possible hurdle that could thwart his goal of joining the Marines is obtaining a U.S. residence certificate, or “green card.” He’s sought to obtain one -- so far unsuccessfully -- via the lottery process.

Praetzas recalled making friends with U.S. servicemembers when he was in charge of a detail of German soldiers that had taken up guard duties at U.S. military installations in Germany at the end of 2003. This operation freed up American troops for deployment for other war-related duties.

Early in 2004, Praetzas was taking courses at Hamburg University when he read about Operation Air Conditioner, a non-profit U.S. servicemember-support organization, in an Army Times article. He immediately sent the group an e-mail asking what he could do. He has sent the group $50 per month ever since.

Operation AC was founded in June 2003 by military mom and Delaware resident Frankie Mayo, who participated in the interview with Praetzas. Her son, Chris Tomlinson, now a sergeant in the Delaware Army National Guard, had served a tour of duty in Iraq when he was on active duty.

Mayo said Operation AC got its name when it sent 11 window-unit air conditioners to her son’s unit in Iraq to combat summer daytime temperatures that could reach as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Operation AC has since shipped more than 9,400 air conditions to U.S. troops overseas.

Operation AC continues to support overseas-deployed U.S. servicemembers by providing food, clothes and other requested items, Mayo said. The organization also is a member of the Defense Department-sponsored America Supports You program, which highlights corporate and grassroots support for U.S. servicemembers and their families.

Mayo said Operation AC regularly receives phone calls and e-mails from citizens around the globe offering help. But, she said, Praetzas was “the first member of a foreign military service that ever wanted to really do anything.”

Before yesterday’ interview, Praetzas and Mayo toured Arlington National Cemetery. There, they visited the gravesite of Army Capt. John R. Teal. Teal was the son of a friend of Mayo’s. He was killed in Iraq on Oct. 23, 2003.

Afterward visiting Arlington, the pair toured the Pentagon.

Praetzas’ said his desire to help America fight terrorists shouldn’t be construed as unusual. He cited a natural camaraderie and bond shared among military people the world over.

Mayo agreed. “People around the world are looking for an outlet where we can join together in this fight against terrorism, because it’s not going away,” she said.

Related Sites:
Operation AC
America Supports You

	German officer 1st. Lt. Jens Praetzas reads an excerpt about U.S. Army Capt. John R. Teal as he visits Teal’s gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery Aug. 14. Teal, assigned to 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, was killed Oct. 23, 2003, when an improvised explosive device exploded near his convoy in Baqubah, Iraq. Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	German 1st. Lt. Jens Praetzas visits Arlington National Cemetery during his first visit to the U.S., on Aug. 14. Praetzas is an active member of Operation AC, which started out as a way to send air conditioners to deployed troops and has evolved into a non-profit charity organization that sends care packages to deployed troops. Praetzas has donated $50 a month since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has adopted 10 U.S. servicemembers through Operation AC. Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	German 1st. Lt. Jens Praetzas visits Arlington National Cemetery during his first visit to the U.S., on Aug. 14. Praetzas is an active member of Operation AC, which started out as a way to send air conditioners to deployed troops and has evolved into a non-profit charity organization that sends care packages to deployed troops. Praetzas has donated $50 a month since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has adopted 10 U.S. servicemembers through Operation AC. Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby    Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

He Understands the Truth!

[DogBarkTree]

He seems like a good man to join the few good men. God speed to him.

[ConorMacNessa]

Gott mit uns!

[sneakers]

Wow

Thanks for a great post SandRat!

This man truly does get it!

[maranatha]

I love this story, I needed to hear something good tonight.

[BartMan1]

Where do they find such men ?

[FreeRep]

Great guy! We are in this war on terror together.

[1rudeboy]

Can you ping your list? I forgot who the Germans are here.

[burzum]

He sounds like a good leader. He should become a Marine officer instead.

[vladimir998]

Hey, let's not just post nice comments about this.

Does any Freeper know ANYBODY high up the food chain who could help this guy into the US and in the Marines?

Couldn't we make this a Freeper project?

[shield]

;o)

[Tench_Coxe]

Wow. I would think the Marines would appreciate the compliment implied in this man's intended actions.

[armymarinemom]

A lot of the German Military have been very supportive of our troops druing the Iraq war.

[usmcobra]

Step one, Find a recruiter.

[armymarinemom]

My guess is that Frankie can connect him to some folks at one of the German bases.

[SandRat]

The fact the this is an official DoD news story means that Gen Pace, and SECDEF will see it as well as all the Command Sergeant's Majors and Command CPOs' and you can't get any higher that; well you can,.... but GW is a little busy right now.

[mathurine]

He well could become a Marine officer, and if he does, he could be a good one. But one step at a time. Let him cherish, first, some moments spent with the men and women from the rank and file of America that he may someday lead. In fact, that's the way it works. Armed forces enlistment and honorable service expedites achievement of formal citizenship under the laws thereunto pertaining, and U.S citizenship expedites military commissioning. He looks like a really good guy for our side, but let's size him up in the usual ways for his sake and our own. This is a complex world now, and the old saying "when in doubt, check it out" applies. So let the proper authorities check him out and let us meanwhile hope he is a jewel, as he certainly seems to be, and joins us, the few and the proud.

[DogBarkTree]

Wise words. Thanks.

[lizol]

Ping