A soldier's request

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Lt. Ramses Brunache is fighting for the United States in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Yet he was born in Haiti, and feels he could be more valuable to his native and adopted lands by serving in the earthquake-ravaged streets of Port-au-Prince. Brunache, who believes his sister and three nieces were killed in the disaster, is asking his superiors for a transfer.

The Associated Press reports on Brunache's request in this article linked by The Washington Post. The 40-year-old soldier, who has been in the U.S. military for 11 years, has been following the devastation of his homeland mostly from an internet cafe on base. Brunache tells the AP he can help in many ways if his superior officers grant his request:

[Brunache] hopes he can help by serving as a translator, but says he'll do whatever is needed.

"I would like to help as many people as possible," he said. "If I have to pick up debris, I can do that." He has a brother who is also based in Afghanistan who is trying to get reassigned as well.

Brunache answered the call to help in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and has served overseas in Kuwait and Afghanistan. While it is important to understand the military has critical war zone needs that must be filled, I hope Brunache gets a chance to carry the banner of both America and Haiti as a force of compassion in his homeland.