Hope his final resting place is in Arlington.
Posted on 12/04/2003 9:51:54 AM PST by anu_shr
Serving in the Army, emigrant is first Indian to die in Iraq war NEW DELHI (AP) — An Indian who emigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Army has become the first Indian killed in the Iraq conflict, according to family members in the United States and in northern India. The death of Spc. Uday Singh, 21, on Dec. 1, reported by The Associated Press in Illinois on Wednesday, was bannered on the front pages of Indian newspapers Thursday.
Singh was born in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, emigrated to the United States at 18 and joined the U.S. army a year later. He was killed when his convoy was ambushed, the news reports said.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi said that Singh had been promoted to sergeant after his death and issued a statement Thursday expressing "its profound sadness over the tragic death" and conveying "deepest sympathy, respect and support to his family."
The statement said, "his honorable service has been recognized by the U.S. armed forces."
Singh, a gunner in a Humvee, was traveling through the town of Habbaniyah, about 50 miles from Baghdad, when the convoy was attacked, relatives said. He died on his way to a hospital.
"He said he was in the most vulnerable position as a gunner because the upper half of his body was constantly exposed," his father, P.M. Singh, was quoted as telling The Hindustan Times. The elder Singh still lives in Chandigarh, which is about 120 miles from New Delhi, India's capital.
Singh had told his father that his unit came under fire about 30 times a day as it patrolled parts of the so-called Sunni Triangle — a region north and west of Baghdad that has seen fierce resistance to the U.S.-led occupation.
"We do not know who the enemy is," Singh said his son had told him.
The American soldier came from a long military tradition. P.M. Singh retired from the Indian army with the rank of lieutenant colonel. His father had served in the Royal Indian Air Force when the country was still under British Rule.
Uday Singh was an Indian citizen with permanent resident status in the United States at the time of his death, The Times of India reported. Under U.S. law, green card holders are eligible for military service.
(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...
Army Spc. Uday Singh was assigned to C Company, Ist Battalion, 34th Armoured Regiment, Ist Infantry Division of Fort Riley, Kansas.
IN my mind Uday was an American warrior who died serving his country. God bless him and those he leaves behind.
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