Marshall Browning's Dr. Tucker Becomes United States Citizen

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ After nearly 25 years in the United States, Dr. Gladstone Tucker applied for and was granted citizenship at a June 1 ceremony at Cedarhurst Museum in Mt. Vernon.

"I have children who are citizens, by birth and naturalized, and I'm beginning to think about retirement." Dr. Tucker said of his recent desire to become a citizen. "Also, I really wanted to participate in the last election, but could not because I was not a citizen. That inspired me."

He would have voted for President Barack Obama whom he met in West Frankfort when both were guests of Senator Reed.

Dr. Tucker, 57, is a native of Sierra Leone in West Africa. He lives in Marion and has his primary practice is at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin. He also practices part-time at the Veteran's Administration hospital in Marion.

His homeland has been embroiled in a civil war for 10 of the last 15 years. War has virtually destroyed the country known for exporting diamonds, boxite and iron.

Sierra Leone was a British Colony until gaining independence in 1961. The resulting government was what Dr. Tucker calls a "pseudo-democracy."

Like many who have lived through political strife, Dr. Tucker developed an interest in the democratic process.

His experience as a doctor in a socialized medical system and world travel give him a unique perspective on politics and particularly the recent debate over health care reform.

Before moving to the United States in 1984, he practiced internal medicine in Sierra Leone. As a doctor in his native country he lived in a good neighborhood and was assigned a driver and maids by the government.

He gave that up to travel to the U.S. Dr. Tucker did graduate work, a residency and a fellowship at the University of Missouri in Kansas City when he first arrived in the U.S. He then practiced in both Kansas and Missouri before moving to Illinois.

He attended medical school in Moscow, Russia and speaks Russian fluently. He also speaks English, Menda (his local dialect) and some German.

Dr. Tucker said he began his medical career by studying geriatric psychiatry, but later switched to internal medicine.

"I found psychiatry too subjective," he said. "That interest turned into a specialization in geriatrics, though."

His last visit to Sierra Leone was in December 2007 and he is planning a trip this December.

He hopes to visit annually after retiring and is working to build a medical clinic with officials in his hometown of Luawa in the Bonthe District.

"I want to become involved in academic medicine," he said. Dr. Tucker added that he plans to remain in southern Illinois after retiring, but will hopefully be able to visit his homeland on an annual basis.

Now that he is a citizen, Dr. Tucker has applied for a U.S. passport. Hopefully, that process will be as manageable as gaining citizenship.

Permanent resident aliens are eligible to apply for citizenship after living in the United States for five years. The process involves a written application and payment of an associated fee, a background check and tests in English proficiency and American History.

Dr. Tucker said he began the process in October 2008. It took approximately six months to complete necessary steps.