76^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers earn U.S. Citizenship in Iraq during mass ceremony                                                                                                                                        Story by Army Capt. Lisa Kopczynski, 76^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Public Affairs Office     Photos by Army Sgt. Aaron Strader, 76^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Public Affairs Office     Posted: September 5, 2008

Spc. Joe Harris, Southgate, Mich., and originally from Iraq waits for his chance to become a U.S. citizen.  Multi-National Corp-Iraq hosted a naturalization ceremony at Al Faw Palace on Camp Victory September 1, 2008.  Harris is assigned as a linguist and an operations assistant with Headquarters, 113th Brigade Support Battalion stationed at Forward Operating Base Q-West. (Photo by Sgt. Aaron Strader, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – As part of a mass naturalization ceremony on Monday with more than 190 Soldiers, six participants assigned to the 76^th 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.  The six members of the 76^th 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, 76^th 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, 113^th 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 1638^th Transportation Company, Task Force 1-293^rd 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 1638^th Transportation Company, Task Force 1-293^rd 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!”

Spc. Luis G. Rocha, 28, Indianapolis, Ind., and originally from Nicaragua, is gunner with Company C, Task Force 1-151^st 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, 76^th 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 76^th 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.