Sui becomes a U.S. citizen

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Sui Tiet said he was ?very happy? Monday afternoon.

He had reason to be.

That?s because for at least a millisecond, Tiet, 69, was the United States? newest citizen.

Tiet, who spoke through a translator, realized a dream yesterday. He started harboring dreams of becoming a U.S. citizen ever since fighting alongside U.S. forces from 1969-75 in the Vietnam War.

He came to the United States 18 years ago from Vietnam and has been living in Mt. Pleasant much of the time. Tiet currently is a resident of Arbor Court in Mt. Pleasant since an accident nearly a decade ago.

Asked how long he wanted to be an American citizen, he said, ?a long time.? But he quickly adds that he would have become a citizen sooner but he did not understand nor know the procedure involved to become a U.S. citizen.

That?s where Cathy Beechler, activities at Arbor Court, stepped in. Beechler helped navigate Tiet through the process.

Early Monday afternoon Tiet was given the oath of citizenship by Fred Rogo, an officer with the U.S. Immigration Services in Des Moines.

Following the oath, he was given his citizenship declaration and an American flag by Rogo. Arbor Court celebrated the event with a reception afterwards for the new citizen and his wife, Hong Tiet.

As he was preparing to indulge in his cake, Tiet said to his translator, Henry Nguyen of Mt. Pleasant, ?Now that I am here, I don?t ever want to go back.?

Spoken like a true U.S. citizen.