Some people say that Americans who grow up in other countries before becoming citizens (rather than being “born American”) have a better appreciation of the life and liberties available in the United States.  US Army Reserve LtCol Joseph D’costa, who was born in Uganda, certainly feels that appreciation.

He grew up with a desire to attend West Point, and ended up spending a year in college and turning down an ROTC scholarship not so he could attend West Point, but so he could attend the preparatory school to get ready for West Point.  He was eventually accepted and graduated in 1989: 

The lieutenant colonel praised the U.S. military for preserving freedom around the globe and said he stays in the Army Reserve to serve his country.

“The United States could’ve said ‘no’ to me,” he said. “Putting my life on the line for a country that took me in is a small price to pay…Freedom is so priceless, and all I have to do is serve in the reserves to continue saying ‘thank you.’ Until the Army tells me to get out, I’ll stay.

“This is the greatest country in the world,” he continued. “When I say that, I’m not just saying it because I heard it from somebody else…The majority of Americans don’t know what it’s like when you have no freedom.”

LtCol D’costa started as a Swahili speaking boy in Uganda and rose to become a leader in the US Army.  He never implied he succeeded by his own devices:

“I credit every success I’ve had to my faith in Jesus Christ, because I shouldn’t be alive today,” he said. “My life should’ve ended in Uganda. All these people I encountered along the way were put into my life to help me reach my goals…”