A Sailor assigned to submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) became a naturalized U.S. citizen during an all hands quarters held aboard the ship, Oct. 23.

Logistics Specialist Seaman Recruit John Ervin Cagang was born in Masantol, Pampanga, Philippines, in 1992 before moving to Yigo, Guam, in 1997. Cagang and his family then moved to Sacramento, California, in 2001 where he lived for 14 years prior to joining the Navy in February.

"I've always wanted to contribute something to this country," said Cagang. "I knew one of the ways I could do that was by joining the Navy. And I knew the Navy would help me reach my goal of eventually becoming a U.S. citizen."

Cagang's naturalization comes after 19 years of living in the United States. He said that during that time he saw many of his friends enjoy the rights that go along with being a citizen, and that he wished he could do the same.

"Growing up as an immigrant, especially going to school here, you see all your friends. They're U.S. citizens and they talk about leaving the country and going to these cool places," he added. "I couldn't do that without special paperwork. So it means a lot to become a U.S. citizen."

Cagang said that because he originally moved to Guam from the Philippines when he was 4 years old, finally becoming a U.S. citizen and being back on the island held significant meaning.

"I was just so stoked to have it done here in Guam," said Cagang. "I grew up here. Having it done on the ship was a big plus. It's cooler to have it done here than anywhere else. It's basically starting all over again in the place that I started all over."

Emory S. Land is a forward deployed expeditionary submarine tender on an extended deployment conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

For more news from Commander Submarine Group 7, visit http://www.navy.mil/.