April 6, 2003 Marine slain in Iraq wins citizenship STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS A Philippines-born Marine Corps gunnery sergeant killed in Iraq will be buried as an American after he was posthumously granted U.S. citizenship. Joseph Menusa, 33, of Tracy, was awarded citizenship Friday, a week after he was killed March 27 in combat. ''I just started crying tears of joy,'' said his widow, Stacy Menusa of Orcutt, after receiving word about his citizenship. ''I know he's jumping for joy up in heaven. I can see the smile on his face already." Mrs. Menusa and the couple's 3-year-old son, Joshua, were visiting her parents, Eddie and Rosie Bernardo, in Orcutt when she learned that her husband had been killed in southern Iraq. He was a member of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton. Sgt. Menusa immigrated to the United States when he was 10. Although he was a permanent resident, he tried for seven years to get citizenship but his military schedule caused him to miss appointments with immigration officials. Sgt. Menusa was serving as a military recruiter in January but voluntarily left that assignment to be closer to the action that seemed likely. There are about 31,000 foreign nationals serving in the American military, at least six of whom have already died in the Iraqi war. President Bush announced an executive order last year making it easier for the families of foreign nationals killed in combat to apply for citizenship for the soldiers. Two others killed in Iraq have also received U.S. citizenship, which carries no extra financial benefits for the soldier's family. Still, it's meaningful to Mrs. Menusa's family members as they prepare for his memorial Tuesday at the American Legion Hall in Tracy. ''We can bury him now,'' said his mother, Virginia Menusa. ''He's part of the U.S. now." Several efforts are being made in the North County to assist the Menusa family. The Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa Memorial Fund has been established at Mid-State bank, 1110 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria 93455. Postal workers who work with Sgt. Menusa's father-in-law are planning a barbecue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday at the Albertsons shopping center at the corner of McCoy Lane and Broadway in Santa Maria. Tickets, at $7, are available in advance at the Nancy Foster State Farm office, 528 E. Main St. |
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