Shaffer
08-22-05, 04:45 PM
Surrounded by his family, 24-year-old, combat-wounded Sergeant Shurvon J. Phillip was awarded his citizenship Aug. 15 in a ceremony at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Phillip, who has been a Marine since January 2005, was wounded when the humvee he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar, Iraq.
Phillip was with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.
The extent of his wounds left him comatose and he was medically evacuated to Al Asad then to the NNMC May 25.
Gail Ulerie, Phillip's mother, has been by his side since he arrived. As a result of her attention and care, personnel at the NNMC consider Ms. Phillip like a member of their own family, according to Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Holland, receptions section chief for the center. "Any Marine would drop whatever they are doing to help her and Sgt. Phillip," Holland said.
Since their arrival at the NNMC, many people have stopped in to visit Sgt Phillip, including President Bush.
During his recent visit to Bethesda, the president met with the Phillip's and made a commitment to Ms. Phillip that citizenship for her son would be taken care of quickly.
Phillip, a native of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was assisted by his brother, and former Marine, Shirlon, who worked with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service to expedite the process.
The Marine Corps' legal assistance office, personnel from the US CIS, the Injured Marine Semper FI Fund, Armed Forces Foundation and family and friends at the NNMC have all played a role in helping Phillip receive his citizenship.
Phillip, who has been a Marine since January 2005, was wounded when the humvee he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar, Iraq.
Phillip was with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.
The extent of his wounds left him comatose and he was medically evacuated to Al Asad then to the NNMC May 25.
Gail Ulerie, Phillip's mother, has been by his side since he arrived. As a result of her attention and care, personnel at the NNMC consider Ms. Phillip like a member of their own family, according to Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Holland, receptions section chief for the center. "Any Marine would drop whatever they are doing to help her and Sgt. Phillip," Holland said.
Since their arrival at the NNMC, many people have stopped in to visit Sgt Phillip, including President Bush.
During his recent visit to Bethesda, the president met with the Phillip's and made a commitment to Ms. Phillip that citizenship for her son would be taken care of quickly.
Phillip, a native of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was assisted by his brother, and former Marine, Shirlon, who worked with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service to expedite the process.
The Marine Corps' legal assistance office, personnel from the US CIS, the Injured Marine Semper FI Fund, Armed Forces Foundation and family and friends at the NNMC have all played a role in helping Phillip receive his citizenship.