My Country To Defend

A.E. Dimond
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook all available
Paperback Price: $21.95
Published: iUniverse, 2004
All formats include a 19-page photo gallery
ISBN: 0-595-33484-9

 
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INSPIRED LEGISLATION

It is estimated that over 35,000 soldiers serving in the United States Armed Forces are non-U.S. citizens. PFC Diego Rincon was one of those warriors who paid the ultimate price for his adopted homeland. President George W. Bush issued an executive order allowing families to apply for posthumous citizenship for any soldier who died in combat after September 11, 2001. Partly inspired by PFC Diego Rincon, legislators enacted law that would make the honor automatic.

The following transcript was taken from the United States Congressional Record. The address by Georgia Senator Zell Miller is included in official business, entitled, "Honoring Our Armed Forces." It can be viewed by linking to http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108.html and selecting "April 9, 2003," then "Senate."

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from Georgia is recognized.

Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, I rise this morning to share with my colleagues the story of one of my Georgia constituents. It beings with a brave young 3rd Infantry soldier named Diego Rincon.

Diego was a native of Colombia and he came to the United States in 1989 with his family when he was 5 years old. He enjoyed a life of freedom and safety that might never have been possible in Colombia.

Diego was extremely loyal to the country that welcomed him. And after the September 11 attacks, he decided it was time to repay his adopted Nation.

Upon graduation from Salem High School in Conyers, GA, Diego enlisted in the Army. He became a member of the ``Rock of the Marne,'' Fort Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division.

Sadly, PFC Rincon was killed March 29 in Iraq by a suicide bomber at a military checkpoint. Diego was 19 years old. Three other members of his 1st Brigade were also killed.

In late February, Diego wrote his final letter home to his mother just as his brigade was getting ready to move out. I would like to read just a couple of paragraphs from that letter:

So I guess the time has finally come for us to see what we are made of, who will crack when the stress level rises and who will be calm all the way through it. Only time will tell.

I try not to think of what may happen in the future, but I can't stand seeing it in my eyes. There's going to be murders, funerals and tears rolling down everybody's eyes.

But the only thing I can say is, keep my head up and try to keep the faith and pray for better days. All this will pass. I believe God has a path for me.

Whether I make it or not, it's all part of the plan. It can't be changed, only completed.

This 19-year-old young man, was wise beyond his years. Diego joined the Army for the noblest of reasons. He fought and died in Iraq while defending our Nation's freedom. And after his death, when I talked with his family, they asked one last request of the Government in return for their son's life  to be able to bury him this Thursday as a U.S. citizen.

I am very pleased and proud to announce today that, with the help of the INS, PFC Diego Rincon has been awarded U.S. citizenship. Tomorrow, this brave soldier will be buried in Georgia as a citizen of this great country.

But there are thousands of noncitizens fighting in our military right now. So I, along with my fellow Senator from Georgia, Mr. Chambliss, have introduced legislation calling for citizenship to be granted immediately to any soldier who fights in our armed services and dies in combat.

For those among our troops who are not citizens and who die on the battlefield, I believe the least we can do is to honor them with posthumous citizenship. I believe it should be done automatically by the Government, with no delay and no burden on the families. Under our bill, the families of these brave soldiers would not have to fill out any forms or make any phone calls. This citizenship would apply only to the deceased soldier, and it would not make the soldier's family eligible for any extra benefit or any special treatment. It is simply a final gesture of thanks and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice these immigrant soldiers have made for their adopted country.

I yield the floor.

LINKS

http://miller.senate.gov/press/2003/04-11-03-PassedCitizenship.html
Senator Zell Miller praises the unanimous passing of the Diego Rincon bill in the U.S. Senate.
http://isakson.net/cgi-data/press/files/33.shtml
Representative Johnny Isakson introduces the Diego Rincon Bill to the U.S. House of Representatives.