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| Africa Horn |
| Ivorian princeling born to be an American, died in Ranger uniform |
| 2007-06-29 |
| Firmin Emolo, to be buried on Saturday, is one of the most unusual casualties of the war in Iraq. Specialist Emolo, a member of the 82nd airborne division, was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in April - just like hundreds of other US soldiers. But Emolo's origins, as his name suggests, were not in Detroit or San Francisco, but in Ivory Coast. The 33 year old was a close cousin of Nanan Boa Kouassi III, king of the Agni ethnic group in the east of the West African country. So how did a member of an Ivorian royal family end his days as a US soldier? "Like many of our young men, he went to America to study," explains family friend and local member of parliament Boa Thiemele Edjampan. "Then he married an American, got American nationality, and joined the military." Freedom is seductive, for those who can handle the responsibility. Unusually, the US military flew Specialist Emolo's remains back to Ivory Coast, so he could be buried in his home town of Abengourou. US Major Gen David T Zabecki accompanied the body as it arrived at Abidjan airport and paid tribute to the Ivorian-American soldier. "As a soldier Specialist Emolo was one of the best. Other paratroopers he served with remember him as always vigilant in his duties, one of the most physically fit soldiers, extremely proud to be in the army and even prouder of becoming an American citizen." US soldiers in crisp green uniforms carried his coffin onto a plinth bearing an Ivorian flag, a potent symbol of the young man's dual loyalties. Some 100 friends and family members wept at the airport gathering, as trumpets played in his honour. Sabine Emolo, Firmin's sister, spoke, in a voice that trembled slightly with emotion, of the money Firmin sent home to his family, and his pride in being a soldier. "I can't regret him joining the army," she told the BBC. "I can only regret that he went so soon." Firmin Emolo's great objectives in life were to become American, and serve in the military. He achieved them both, but he didn't live long enough to enjoy the achievement. I would've said, he lived long enough to achieve his dreams, and find a wonderful woman to share them with. But then, I don't feel any need to protect the BBC narrative in the face of blatant reality. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #3 He achieved them both, but he didn't live long enough to enjoy the achievement. Oh, he lived long enough. He died a warrior on behalf of one of the greatest and certainly the most generous civilization that has graced the planet. As for you dear BBC copyist as you fail to grasp that, as the character King Leonidas said in the movie "300", may you live forever. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-06-29 17:57 |
| #2 maybe we should start an exchange program across the world trading our haters here for ppl like this who actually want too come here and make a real difference in the world |
| Posted by: sinse 2007-06-29 10:57 |
| #1 Another American born in the wrong place. Thank you, good sir, and rest in peace. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-06-29 10:12 |