Everything Is Earned: From War Refugee to U.S. Marine and college student by Lance Cpl. Lucas Vega USMC-R
FORT WORTH, Texas -- His fondest memory as a child was when a U.S. Marine handed him a piece of candy. The Marines were not solely in Ivory Coast just to hand out candy; they were supporting a humanitarian exercise in the war-torn country Lance Cpl. Martial Agbyssi once called home, but young Agbyssi did not know the difference.
“All I knew is that U.S. Marines made people happy,” said Agbyssi, a food service specialist with Headquarters Battery, 14th Marine Regiment. “Ever since that unforgettable day, I knew that I wanted to be a Marine.”
In 2006 at the age of 16, he came to the United States alongside his two sisters and his mother to escape the civil strife caused by rebel forces in his country. Agbyssi and his family initially left their home in Niakara, Ivory Coast, and fled to neighboring Senegal after his mother was deemed to be a target of the rebels.
“As a mother I did what was best for my children,” said Marceline Kone, mother of Agbyssi. “I was scared for my children. I wanted them to be safe.”
In Senegal, she pled her case to emigrate to America along with her family. Weeks later, the Sengalian government called Kone to notify her she had been selected to migrate to the U.S. Kone, a middle class accountant responsible for handling funds of multiple businesses back in the Ivory Coast, lived a good life, but the safety of her family and hope of a more promising future led her to migrate to the U.S.
“I lived a good life in Ivory Coast,” said Agbyssi. “My mother was an accountant so we were not poor, but we knew we could live a better life in America.”
Upon arrival, Agbyssi entered high school as a sophomore speaking only French, the main language of the Ivory Coast. Agbyssi still pursued his dreams of becoming a United States Marine. In order to join, he knew a high school diploma was a requirement.
“At first high school was very challenging because of the language barrier,” he said. “I took a lot of extra English tutoring so I could grasp the language faster. I also had the help of local college students who helped me with my homework after school.”
Still unsure about his future after high school, he joined his school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Joining JROTC helped Agbyssi develop a better understanding of the military and ultimately helped him make his final decision.
“I chose to be in the Marine Corps. Even though I was in Air Force JROTC, my heart was still set on being a Marine,” said Agbyssi. “The instructors of the program helped me successfully achieve all the requirements for joining the Marine Corps.”
After only eight months in the states, Agbyssi finally visited the local Marine Corps recruiter, where he took his first step to becoming a Marine.
“I didn’t care about what job I got, as long as I became a Marine which is what was most important to me,” explained Agbyssi, who now resides in Watauga, Texas, a small city just outside Fort Worth.
His mother, a witness of the conflict and violence within her homeland feared for her son’s life in the military force reputed to be the “first to fight.”
“My mother was very scared,” Agbyssi explained. “I had to reassure her that I would be okay. She feared that I would go to combat and my life would be in danger. I explained to her that was a possibility, but as a reservist I would be home with her and only go to drill once a month.”
Agbyssi checked into the unit after graduating from military occupational school at Fort Lee, Va., in February. As a Marine, Agbyssi plans on working part time while attending Tarrant County Community College.
“Everything Is Earned”
Despite the ongoing conflict in the Ivory Coast, Agbyssi still plans to return there someday. Currently, he is a permanent resident of the United States but is classified as a refugee. However, the U.S. government prohibits permanent residents in a refugee status to return to their homeland until they have become a full-fledged U.S. citizen.
“I just want to go home,” explained Agbyssi, who is currently in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen. “There are many relatives I have not seen in a long time who I would like to visit. The first thing I’m going to do when I get my citizenship is go home.”
Regardless of what happens in his homeland, Agbyssi described the effect living in the United States and becoming a Marine has had on him.
“The Marines helped me rebuild my confidence. They taught me how to be a better person while giving me a sense of pride in belonging in this country,” Agbyssi explained. “In this world, I believe that everything is earned. I am proud to stand tall and say that I have earned everything.”
According to a Today’s Zaman news article published in September, United Nations forces have been deployed to Ivory Coast since 2004 to maintain peace within the country.
In Senegal, she pled her case to emigrate to America along with her family. Weeks later, the Sengalian government called Kone to notify her she had been selected to migrate to the U.S. Kone, a middle class accountant responsible for handling funds of multiple businesses back in the Ivory Coast, lived a good life, but the safety of her family and hope of a more promising future led her to migrate to the U.S.
“I lived a good life in Ivory Coast,” said Agbyssi. “My mother was an accountant so we were not poor, but we knew we could live a better life in America.”
Upon arrival, Agbyssi entered high school as a sophomore speaking only French, the main language of the Ivory Coast. Agbyssi still pursued his dreams of becoming a United States Marine. In order to join, he knew a high school diploma was a requirement.
“At first high school was very challenging because of the language barrier,” he said. “I took a lot of extra English tutoring so I could grasp the language faster. I also had the help of local college students who helped me with my homework after school.”
Still unsure about his future after high school, he joined his school’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Joining JROTC helped Agbyssi develop a better understanding of the military and ultimately helped him make his final decision.
“I chose to be in the Marine Corps. Even though I was in Air Force JROTC, my heart was still set on being a Marine,” said Agbyssi. “The instructors of the program helped me successfully achieve all the requirements for joining the Marine Corps.”
After only eight months in the states, Agbyssi finally visited the local Marine Corps recruiter, where he took his first step to becoming a Marine.
“I didn’t care about what job I got, as long as I became a Marine which is what was most important to me,” explained Agbyssi, who now resides in Watauga, Texas, a small city just outside Fort Worth.
His mother, a witness of the conflict and violence within her homeland feared for her son’s life in the military force reputed to be the “first to fight.”
“My mother was very scared,” Agbyssi explained. “I had to reassure her that I would be okay. She feared that I would go to combat and my life would be in danger. I explained to her that was a possibility, but as a reservist I would be home with her and only go to drill once a month.”
Agbyssi checked into the unit after graduating from military occupational school at Fort Lee, Va., in February. As a Marine, Agbyssi plans on working part time while attending Tarrant County Community College.
“Everything Is Earned”
Despite the ongoing conflict in the Ivory Coast, Agbyssi still plans to return there someday. Currently, he is a permanent resident of the United States but is classified as a refugee. However, the U.S. government prohibits permanent residents in a refugee status to return to their homeland until they have become a full-fledged U.S. citizen.
“I just want to go home,” explained Agbyssi, who is currently in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen. “There are many relatives I have not seen in a long time who I would like to visit. The first thing I’m going to do when I get my citizenship is go home.”
Regardless of what happens in his homeland, Agbyssi described the effect living in the United States and becoming a Marine has had on him.
“The Marines helped me rebuild my confidence. They taught me how to be a better person while giving me a sense of pride in belonging in this country,” Agbyssi explained. “In this world, I believe that everything is earned. I am proud to stand tall and say that I have earned everything.”
According to a Today’s Zaman news article published in September, United Nations forces have been deployed to Ivory Coast since 2004 to maintain peace within the country.
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