Face of Defense: Airman From Togo Takes Pride in U.S. Citizenship

By Air Force Senior Airman Jourdan Barrons, 86th Airlift Wing

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Air Force Senior Airman Pascal Nyowatchon’s co-workers describe him in a few short words: positive, strong and lively.

“I come to work happy every day,” Nyowatchon said “I smile. I laugh.”

Nyowatchon said his decision to keep smiling is a goal he set at a young age. Nyowatchon grew up in Togo, a small tropical country in western Africa and the site of political turmoil for more than 50 years, forcing families like Nyowatchon’s to be uprooted from their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries.

“I remember being a little kid not knowing what’s going on.” Nyowatchon said “We just left everything behind. It was tough.”

That hardship is what motivated him to keep his head up, work hard and influence others to maintain their resilience.

“I learned from a young age that when things come your way, embrace it,” Nyowatchon said “Stop complaining. Life is not meant to be easy, so just take one step at a time.”

Coming to the U.S.

In early 2005, Nyowatchon and his family found themselves fleeing the country again. This time, while in Ghana, they applied for a visa to come to the United States.

“Nyowatchon said he’d always wanted to go to the United States to “have a better life.”

After two years of waiting and filing out documents, his family was approved to come to the U.S. In 2013 he became a U.S. citizen.

“I can recall it, yes. It was really nice,” Nyowatchon said of his citizenship ceremony. “I made sure I dressed up. I was looking sharp and holding the U.S. flag. And, I remember singing the national anthem. It was like I was an original American.”

He planned to go to school and further his education but something else was at the back of his mind.

Joining the Air Force

“It always came back to me,” Nyowatchon said “I promised something to an immigration officer that I would defend the U.S. Constitution.”

Today, he serves as a client system technician in the Air Force with the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing here, where he brings his positive personality and motivation to his peers and leaders.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Twan Jennings, Nyowatchon’s supervisor, described him as someone who likes to go above and beyond.

“He wants to be the one to do everything,” Jennings said “He’s like a ray of sunshine. And, his trust in God, knowing he’ll never fail him, makes him who he is so nothing can defeat him.”

Nyowatchon’s faith is something he wants to share with more people. He has aspirations to become a chaplain's assistant and possibly become an Air Force chaplain one day.

He is grateful for all the opportunities given to him, and is especially thankful his family will not have to endure the same hardships as he did.

“I’m very happy for my son,” Nyowatchon said. “He has a U.S. passport. It’s a privilege being a U.S. citizen and having access to things other people don’t have access to. I have a house I’ve never had before. I have a family, and the Air Force is taking care of us. And, I will not take that for granted.”

Mattis, Omani Foreign Minister Discuss Defense Relationship

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and Omani Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf bin Alawi discussed a range of regional security issues as well as ways to strengthen the two countries’ defense relationship during their meeting at the Pentagon today, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said in a statement.

Mattis and the senior Omani official reaffirmed the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Oman, White said.

Regional Security Issues

The two leaders, she added, also discussed a broad range of regional security issues, including the conflict in Yemen, freedom of navigation and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation.

Mattis said Oman is a vital U.S. security partner in the Middle East, White said. The two leaders, she added, also are exploring ways to strengthen their bilateral defense cooperation.

U.S. Receives Fallen Service Members’ Remains From North Korea

WASHINGTON -- The United Nations Command with support from U.S. Forces Korea today repatriated 55 cases of remains of fallen U.S. service members returned by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, according to a news release.

A U.S. cargo aircraft flew to Wonson, North Korea, to receive the remains and returned promptly to Osan Air Base, South Korea, the release said.

“It was a successful mission following extensive coordination,” United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea commander Army Gen. Vincent K. Brooks said in the release.

“Now, we will prepare to honor our fallen before they continue on their journey home,” Brooks added.

Brooks will host a full honors ceremony for the fallen service members August 1. Immediately following that ceremony, the remains will be flown to Hawaii for further processing under the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

The UNC in Korea remains committed to enforcing the 1953 U.N. Armistice Agreement to return fallen service members, the release said.

“The United States owes a profound debt of gratitude to those American service members who gave their lives in service to their country and we are working diligently to bring them home” according to a statement released by the White House. “It is a solemn obligation of the United States government to ensure that the remains are handled with dignity and properly accounted for so their families receive them in an honorable manner.

“Today’s actions represent a significant first step to recommence the repatriation of remains from North Korea and to resume field operations in North Korea to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who have not yet returned home,” the statement added.