Illinois National Guard Soldier Becomes U.s. Citizen While Deployed to Kuwait

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Spc. Chinonso Nwosu of Chicago (left) with the 1244th Transportation Company stands next to Brig. Gen. David Clarkson, (right) deputy commanding general of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command.

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT (03/15/2011)(readMedia)-- In front of a crowd filled with fellow Soldiers from the 1244th Transportation Company in North Riverside, Spc. Chinonso Nwosu of Chicago and four other Soldiers received their American citizenship in a naturalization ceremony conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Feb. 16, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Under new Department of Homeland Security rules, Soldiers who have served since 9/11 are able to expedite the naturalization process, which usually takes five years.

Nwosu was formerly a Nigerian citizen and is serving as a member of the 1244th in Joint Logistics Task Force 7 in Kuwait supporting Operation New Dawn. Nwosu volunteered for this deployment; his second in less than three years, which qualified him for expedited consideration of his citizenship application.

As Soldiers from the 1244th watched and cheered, Nwosu took the Oath of Allegiance to become an American citizen.

"I'm very happy to be a U.S. citizen," said Nwosu. "It is something I have been working very hard for."

As members of the armed forces even before their Oath of Allegiance as new citizens, and their courage in doing so is an example we can all reflect upon for inspiration, said Brig. Gen. David Clarkson, deputy commanding general of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

His sentiments were echoed by Nwosu's supporters from the 1244th.

"He is so proud to be an American citizen. He told me and many of us that we don't understand what it means to the rest of the world to be an American citizen," said Spc. Harold White of Belleville, with 1244th.

The Soldiers of the 1244th respect the courage and motivation Nwosu displayed in working to receive his citizenship.

"You look at Specialist Nwosu and see how important his American citizenship is to him," said 1st Lt. Jesse Sherman of Bellevile, Nwosu's platoon leader. "He left his family, friends, and is willing to risk his life to become a citizen. This should be a lesson that we as Americans take to heart. I know I will."

Nwosu was born April 2, 1984 in Nigeria, the middle child of five to Osita Nwosu, and Charity Nwosu. He completed his high school education and one year of general studies in college in Nigeria. In 2004, at age 20, Chinonso moved by himself to Chicago to pursue a better education, completing coursework at Northeastern Illinois University.

Nwosu's service began with his enlistment in the Illinois National Guard in July 2006. He attended basic combat training at Fort Benning, Ga., and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His first assignment was to the 1244th. In October 2007, he was attached to the 1844th Transportation Company based in Quincy and deployed with that unit to Iraq from January 2008 to January 2009.

"He is an outstanding Soldier and it was an honor seeing him receive his citizenship after serving alongside him for two tours said," Sgt. 1st Class Brian Arnold, Nwosu's platoon sergeant.