Naturalization proceedings a first at Misawa

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  For the first time, U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agents visited Misawa to test prospective U.S. citizens and administer the oath of allegiance here Nov. 10 and 11.

This visit marks the end of a long road for many servicemembers and spouses who desired to be American. However, this visit almost didn't happen if it weren't for the fast acting 35th Security Forces Squadron chief enlisted manager and SMSgt James Nasto, Misawa Security Operations Center Mission Engineering Directorate Support Division Chief.

"We generally hold ceremonies in Japan at Camp Foster, Yokoska and Sasebo Naval Bases, but at the last minute the Yokoska ceremony was cancelled," said Francis Leigh, U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudications officer.

Yokoska's last-minute cancellation was Misawa's opportunity to hold the ceremony and one of Misawa's own was there to take it up.
A lot of Misawa residents had already made plans and reservations to travel to Yokoska for the ceremony. For it to be cancelled is something many didn't want to see, said Chief Master Sgt. John Gammage, 35th SFS chief enlisted manager. "So, I called Walter Haith, USHS, USCIS field office director, and told him about our unique situation and he agreed to come here."

When Mr. Haith and Leigh arrived here for their two-day visit, they had a busy first day of interviewing and testing 26 prospective Americans from 13 countries.

"We had prospects from Indonesia, Togo, Philippines, Panama, Ecuador, Kenya, Nigeria, Cuba, Australia, Peru, Mexico, Japan and China," said Leigh.

Plus, they had several servicemembers who were in the group representing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

"I believe the truly inspiring naturalizations are the [ones involving] military members," said Leigh. "They are out fighting in wars for [our] country without receiving the same benefits that ordinary U.S. citizens do. The citizenship that we are bestowing on them is something they have already earned and there is no one more deserving than a military member."

Completing the interview process doesn't guarantee American citizenship. All prospects are required to attend the ceremony and receive the oath of allegiance in order to be fully naturalized citizens of the United States.

"All naturalizations are memorable and Misawa's is no exception, but my most memorable naturalization was when I was the field operations director over in Guam," said Haith. "After a 17-year wait from the time this applicant filed his naturalization paperwork, we were able to verify the identity of this 80-year old WWII Philippine veteran using the National Archives. He was a Filipino scout who was an active member of the U.S. Army and fought in Bataan. After the military surrendered, he was forced to walk in the Bataan Death March. Luckily he was able to escape and for the rest of the war he was a guerilla fighter. We were able to naturalize him on the beach where the Marines first landed to retake Guam. That was a very memorable ceremony."

For military members or spouses of military members considering naturalization, please contact your military personnel flight or e-mail Walter Haith .

"This was one of the greatest experiences of my life, I'm so proud," said Heni Butterfield wife of Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield, 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs NCO in charge of Media. "In Indonesia you can go to jail for saying the wrong thing. Now, I have all the rights and freedoms of an American citizen and I will protect these rights and freedoms because I know what it is like not to have them."