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Fort Lewis soldiers to be sworn in as U.S. citizens

Nov- 9-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

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By MELANTHIA MITCHELL, ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- As far as Nicaraguan immigrant Jean Zamora is concerned, the United States has always been his home. So after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he wanted to serve and fight for a country that, legally, was not his own.

Until now.

Zamora and at least 20 other Stryker Brigade soldiers are to be granted citizenship during a ceremony Thursday at the Army's Fort Lewis, 40 miles south of here.

Specialist Zamora is a gunner with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division - one of three Stryker Brigade Combat teams based at the post. The 4,000-member brigade began returning from Iraq in September after a year-long tour.

"This is a great way for soldiers, many of whom have already served with the U.S. Army in Iraq and elsewhere, to show they want to continue serving the United States in an even larger capacity by being a citizen," said Joseph Piek, a Fort Lewis spokesman.

Piek said Fort Lewis does not track how many non-citizens soldiers are based at the post, or how many are currently seeking citizenship.


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