Hundreds of troops re-enlist in July 4 ceremony

Hundreds of US troops marked the Fourth of July by re-enlisting in the military today, while others took their oaths of American citizenship in ceremonies at the main US headquarters in Iraq.

A total of 588 troops signed up for another stint in the military, according to a US military statement.

Another 161 became naturalised American citizens.

US commander Gen David Petraeus dedicated the Independence Day ceremony to the memory of two soldiers who were killed in action before they could be sworn in as citizens.

They were Sgt Kimel Watt, 21, of Brooklyn, NY, a native of Jamaica, who was killed June 3 in Baghdad, and Spc Farid Elazzouzi of Paterson, NJ, who died June 14 in a bombing near Kirkuk. Elazzouzi was born in Morocco.

Visiting Sen John McCain, congratulated the new citizens and spoke of the hardships endured fighting in an unpopular war.

“You know that you who have endured the dangers and deprivations of war so that the worst thing would not befall us, so that America might be secure in our freedom,” McCain said.

“As you know, the war in which you have fought has divided the American people. But it has divided no American in their admiration for you. We all honour you.”

Sen Lindsey Graham, led the new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance.