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Ex-Iraqi says she felt called to serve the U.S.
The Dallas Morning News ^ | July 4, 2008 | ED HOUSEWRIGHT

Posted on 07/04/2008 3:37:28 PM PDT by mdittmar

Spc. Razan Saied seems like an unlikely soldier.

She once taught elementary school in her native Kurdistan, in northern Iraq. That was before she, her husband and their three children fled the Saddam Hussein regime a decade ago.

Later, as U.S. citizens, her husband and children supported her decision to enlist in the Army, even if they didn't fully understand it.

"I kind of thought she was joking," said her 10-year-old son, Alan.

"She's a soccer mom!" said daughter Sana, 14.

But Spc. Saied felt a calling to serve, which she did as a Kurdish translator for U.S. commanders. She feels it still now, as she struggles to recover from the traumatic head and hip injuries she suffered in Iraq, the result of a Humvee rollover.

"I'm a soldier," she said.

The Richardson resident will spend Independence Day at home with her family before returning to San Antonio for another round of grueling physical therapy. The three-bedroom home is the first they've owned since coming to the United States in 2000, a gift from a national charitable group.

Spc. Saied, 39, can walk only with crutches. But she has no regrets about enlisting.

"I wanted to do something for this country because I love this country," she said. "Here, you have freedom."

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; naturalization; soldiers
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To: goldstategop
Foreign born Americans love this country a lot more than native Americans. The last thing they do is take her for granted. I just love that picture of Spc. Razan Saied smiling with all those little American flags. Happy July 4th!

That's why I have no problem granting citizenship to those foreigners who have served honorably in our armed forces.

21 posted on 07/04/2008 7:31:48 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: mdittmar

Very nice! I saw two soldiers downtown at the fireworks tonight. One was a white kid probably from the Midwest (judging by his accent) and the other was an Hispanic woman probably (by her accent) from Texas. They looked great and I thanked them for what they are doing.


22 posted on 07/04/2008 7:39:52 PM PDT by livius
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To: All; mdittmar

.

NEVER FORGET

.

MEL’s -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

http://www.Freerepublic.com/~aloharonnie/

http://www.Freerepublic.com/~anita1/

.

NEVER FORGET

.


23 posted on 07/04/2008 9:06:00 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: All; aposiopetic

.

Make no mistake about it,

this new 21st Century of ours

is really all about

freeing all the women of the world

to be all that they already

are in GOD’s Eyes,

...and all that they can be
...while here on the Earth.

.

Praise GOD that

President BUSH has us now going

back to Earth’s Moon permanently

and then onto the Planet Mars,

...bringing those still living here
...in the 7th Century AD
...along for the ride.

.


24 posted on 07/04/2008 9:25:47 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: mdittmar
Welcome Home! to Razan Saied.
25 posted on 07/04/2008 9:49:46 PM PDT by RJL
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To: mdittmar

God bless her and her family. She exemplifies patriotism.


26 posted on 07/04/2008 10:09:57 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: mdittmar

btt


27 posted on 07/04/2008 11:01:14 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: KevinDavis

.

Please see ALOHA RONNIE Post No. 24...

AR

.


28 posted on 07/05/2008 8:09:11 AM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: mdittmar
"I wanted to do something for this country because I love this country," she said. "Here, you have freedom."

Thank you very much.

29 posted on 07/05/2008 8:35:43 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. General Creighton Abrams)
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To: mdittmar

God bless this brave lady.


30 posted on 07/05/2008 9:18:20 AM PDT by reasonisfaith (Liberalism is service to the self disguised as service to others.)
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To: ALOHA RONNIE; All

Good post...


31 posted on 07/05/2008 2:10:03 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Barak Obama: The Candidate of Clarification)
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