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178 soldiers become U.S. citizens in Iraq

In a Veterans Day ceremony north of Baghdad on Sunday, 178 service members became U.S. citizens.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff administered the Oath of Allegiance at Sustainer Theater on Logistical Support Area Anaconda, the Army announced in a press release Monday.

“I can’t think of people who are more deserving of citizenship than those who are fighting to defend the country even before they are citizens. They understand that freedoms don’t come free and they are willing to make sacrifices even before they reap the benefits of citizenship,” Chertoff said in the release

Army veteran Emilio T. González, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, presented each new citizen with a certificate of naturalization.

Brig. Gen. Gregory E. Couch, commanding general of the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), congratulated each new citizen. “It is fitting that these wonderful warriors be granted citizenship on Veteran’s Day,” Couch said in the release.

Naturalized service members also received a U.S. flag from the 316th’s senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Stacey E. Davis.

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there are nearly 40,000 non-U.S. citizens serving in uniform.

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60 soldiers become citizens at Afghanistan ceremony