Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration Lecture Series

 

A Native or an Adopted Son: Immigrant Service Members in World War I

Written and presented by Zachary Wilske, Senior Historian, USCIS History Office and Library


During the First World War, nearly 18% of American enlisted men were foreign-born. This episode explores foreign-born soldiers’ contributions to the American war effort. Many of these immigrant service members returned to the U.S. and became naturalized citizens after the war. Others lost their lives in service to their adoptive country, meaning an immigrant could have been buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Listen Here: A Native or an Adopted Son: Immigrant Service Members in World War I

Zachary Wilske is the Senior Historian for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He has worked in the USCIS History Office and Library since 2002. His research interests include the history of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the development of federal immigration and nationality policies, and the uses of INS records for historians and genealogists. He speaks regularly at genealogy and academic conferences, has published articles on researching with INS records, and has served as the President of the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG). He received history degrees from St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa) and the University of Maryland.


To learn more, explore these resources from the USCIS History Office and Library:

USCIS World War I Centennial Poster

The Immigrant Army: Immigrant Service Members in World War I

Ludovicus Maria Matheus Van Iersel, buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Mass Immigration and World War I


 

1. Britain Dean and Chapel of Westminster

Foreign-born soldiers hold up their naturalization certificates after becoming citizens on September 13, 1919, in Washington, D.C. (National Archives and Records Administration)


2. France BnF ANCHRC compressed

 

 

 

 

 

Titled “Americans All!” this 1919 Victory Liberty Loan poster by Howard Chandler Christy, depicted last names on an honor roll of the war dead, indicating the diversity of the American Expeditionary Forces and the many immigrants within its ranks. (Library of Congress)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Foreign born soldiers fill out applications for citizenship in Washington, D.C. on September 13, 1918. (National Archives)


Soldiers fill out citizenship papers in a Y.M.C.A. hut at Camp Upton, New York, 1918. (National Archives)


A soldier naturalization ceremony at Camp Ethan Allen, Vermont, on June 25, 1918. (Library of Congress)


3. Portugal Batalha LOC crop

A photo of Marcelino Serna in uniform. (Bisbee Daily Review, September 19, 1919)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Marcelino Serna’s Certificate of Naturalization. (USCIS History Office and Library)


The grave of immigrant Medal of Honor recipient Ludavicus (Louis) Van Iersel at Arlington National Cemetery. (U.S. Army photo)


11. Australia U.S. Navy

A photo of Van Iersel in uniform. (U.S. Army photo)


12. South Korean President Moon Jae-in

Deputy Commissioner of Naturalization Raymond F. Crist (center) with newly naturalized soldiers, 1919. (Library of Congress)