Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
January 29, 2005
American Hero Not Even American (Until Now)
Posthumous Citizenship Granted to Marine Killed in Iraq
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - He was born in Vietnam and came to America at age 6. After growing up in northern Virginia, he joined the Marines even though he was not a U.S. citizen. Cpl. Binh Le became an American on Thursday, but he could not attend the citizenship ceremony held in the shadow of the Pentagon. Last month, he was buried nearby in Arlington National Cemetery, the victim of a truck bomb in Iraq during a voluntary second tour of duty there.Le, 20, grabbed his rifle when the truck packed with explosives attacked his military post Dec. 3. He had run to a position to fire on the driver and hold back the vehicle when it exploded. His commanding officer recommended him for a Silver Star.
"His final act of bravery saved the lives of others," Capt. Christopher J. Curtain wrote in a letter read at the ceremony. "I will be forever grateful for his heroism."
An estimated 37,000 citizens of other countries serve in the U.S. armed forces. Since the Iraq war began, 54 have been awarded posthumous citizenship.
Le was raised by his aunt and uncle in Alexandria, Va. His parents, Lien Van Tran and Kim Hoan Thi Nguyen, traveled from Vietnam for his funeral. They are divorced but would like to remain in the United States to be close to their son's grave, Nguyen said.
"There's no way to describe the pain," she said.
Rep. James P. Moran, D-Va., said he is working to offer citizenship to Le's parents, which could require congressional action.
"I think this is a compelling enough case that we can get a single bill for citizenship for his parents," Moran said. "They certainly deserve it."
Tran said they didn't have a problem with their son enlisting in the Marine Corps, but they wanted him to have time to attend college.
"His main concern was to join the military so that he could help protect the country he loved so much," Tran said.
This is an amazing story. He went to Iraq, not once, but volunteered to go a second time. In a time when some of our own, actual American citizens refuse to go, and fail to report for duty, this brave young man went twice to do his part for a nation he longed to be a citizen off. It is sad that he was killed, any loss of life is a tragedy although a reality of war. I am glad to hear he was awarded his citizenship, even if only in spirit. I too hope he is awarded the Silver Star.
Now, as for his parents getting citizenship, unfortunately I disagree. There have been great parents that have had horrible children and horrible parents that have had wonderful children. I believe each person should become an immigrant on their own merit. It is a tragedy that their son passed on in Iraq, but that was his battle, his choice, his destiny if you will. If his parents are to become citizens it should be on their own merit and not a free ride "just because" their son was killed in Iraq.
Your thoughts?
SlagleRock Out!
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Posted by SlagleRock at January 29, 2005 10:20 AMIn my mind,Cpl. Binh Le,was an American long ago.Actual citizenship would just be an formality but an formality that congress definitely needs to act upon!As for the parents citizenship,I believe they should be allowed to stay in this country while they meet the requirements for citizenship.
I my mind,these two have suffered an great enough loss in the name of freedom.They have given the ultimate sacrifice,in order that other American GIs could live on.
Granted,their son made the decision to join the Marines.A decision that ultimately cost him his life.As a father of three and a grandfather of two,I assure you that I would gladly give my life in exchange for any of theirs.
In my opinion,preventing these poor souls the ability to be close to their sons'grave,would be one of the greatest travesties to come out of this war.
Under normal circumstances I would agree citizenship should be bestowed on individual merit.I this case I believe that Cpl.Le has earned the right to have his parents near,if not the other way around.
As we age our ideals and many of our thought processes change.We gain a stronger respect and appreciation for life.As a younger man I believe I would have had a very different opinion on this subject.As an older man,with a son in the military,my heart cries too loudly for this pair.
May God comfort them in their time of sorrow and may God welcome Cpl. Le into his fold with open arms.
Cpl.Le I salute you and thank you from the bottom of my aching heart.
PappaSlagle
Posted by: PappaSlagle at January 29, 2005 11:21 AMI agree with you Papa, this soldier was an American for a long time already, in spirit if not in the formality.
I think his parents should be given the opportunity to become citizens, BUT they should have to go through the same qualification process as any other immigrant; granting them instant citizenship just on the basis of their son's heroism cheapens their potential citizenship, and in a way, makes their son's sacrifice look more like a "meal ticket" than the loss that it was for them and the nation.
Waive the application to immigrate process, but let them prove their desire to stay by the manner they integrate into our society and study the required items just as any other immigrant.
You know Papa, you once told me that I had had no choice in becoming an American; that my parents had made that choice for me (on a thread on another topic...this reminded me of that).
I DID make that choice. I had enough family in my country of birth that would have been overjoyed to care for me that I could have returned any time I had wished, they made that offer on at least three separate occasions. My father had been a citizen a full 9 years before I made my own declaration. As a minor, I could have been included under his declaration and not even have taken the Naturalization tests required.
He (and I) felt that it was a personal decision that had to made; citizenship is too precious a thing to just make it a rubber stamp formality.
Posted by: delftsman3 at January 29, 2005 01:23 PMHe was more of a citizen of this great country than many that were born here. He chose to give back something that most of us take for granted, sadly he lost his life in the process. May Cpl. Binh Le rest in peace as a true American.
Posted by: Jack at January 31, 2005 05:48 PM