Indian-Americans in the U.S. Military

March 27, 2003

Source: India West

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=d2e70258203a1fa4989476f13760c451

On March 27, 2003 India West reported that "when two-year-old Krishan Chaudhary is tucked under the covers, his bedtime stories are often read by his father--on video. 'Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar are some of his favorites,' said his mother Uma, as her husband Ravi, a captain in the United States Air Force posted at the Charleston Air Force Base, waited anxiously by the phone for orders to deploy... The videotape is part of an 'emergency packet' the couple put in place in anticipation of the long periods of separation. The video collection includes Ravi reading Krishan's favorite books, singing his favorite songs or just talking to him... Since the Iraq crisis flared, Chaudhary has asked his family to 'hang on a little further.' Chaudhary is among the few Indian Americans serving in the United States Armed Forces, a career choice that is unusual in the Indian American community which has traditionally eyed careers in medicine, finance, engineering and software... Though the number of Indian Americans serving in the Armed Forces is small, they have been making their presence felt. Puri says Indians have earned the respect of their colleagues in the U.S. Air Force."