BAGHDAD — Almost 200 U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq celebrated Tuesday’s elections in a special way and were sworn in as U.S. citizens.
The 186 men and women — who hail from 60 countries — took their citizenship oath at a ceremony in a marble hall at Saddam Hussein’s old palace on Camp Victory near the Baghdad airport.
The soldiers say they relish the chance to cast their ballot in the U.S., even if they missed out on Tuesday’s election.
“I’m excited to be able to vote,” said Spec. Ruth McKoy, from the 62nd Quartermaster Company, 553rd Sustainment Brigade.
“If something good comes out of a future election, I can say I had something to do with that. It’s like my voice is being heard now,” said Mc Koy, who was born in Jamaica and joined the Army in 2002.
