Catherine Lev
Captain, U.S. Army
Captain Lev was born in Moscow in 1976. While the Soviet Union was not the most welcoming environment for Jews at the time, she was able to have an active Jewish childhood.
I was lucky enough to attend Hebrew school and Youth Zionist camp while over there. I also participated in the Bat Mitzvah twin program and corresponded with Bat Mitzvah girls from the US and Great Britain. Talk about Jewish solidarity in action.
Her family moved to the US in 1990 and she enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1995 with only a green card. Her first MOS was Medical Supply, but she soon reclassed to Civil Affairs. After completing Fordham University School of Law and passing the New York State Bar Exam she went on active duty in the JAG corps.
Capt. Lev’s present duty station is Baumholder, Germany. However, as a part of 1st Armored Division she deployed to Iraq from May to December 2003 where she provded legal assistance to soldiers in the Baghdad area.
Many of my cleints downrange were immigrants like myself. In an effort to complete their naturalization we encountered numerous obstacles. It was always my firm conviction that American citizenship is a privelege, but I believed GI’s in Iraq earned that privelege more than anyone. During the visit of the Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee I brought my clients’ plight to his attention (and got a coin out of it). Staring October 1 this year, our embassy in Baghdad will begin conducting naturalization ceremonies for soldiers.
As if that didn’t keep Captain Lev busy enough, she managed to work on a website between assisting clients. She affectionately calls it her “Baghdad Baby.” It is a Jewish feminist website in Russian (the first of its’ kind). You can see it at www.womenofvalor.net (if you speak Russian).
I have an “Adopt-a-Soldier” in Baghdad who’s originally from Mexico. He came to California illegally, but is now a sergeant in the US Army. I read about Captain Lev, and I would like to know if she has any points of contact for me to help him obtain citizenship.
Best wishes, John
Katya,
I’m from Russia. I’m writing article for veterans of WWII. I would like to ask you couple questions. Please email to me.
Thank you,
Alla
Katya
Wow, I didn’t realize that you are famous now…
If you remember, we had briefly met at the Deployment Processing Center on ROB in Kaiserslautern (where I was the ops officer) on the day of your deployment to Iraq. I was seating on the table and talking to someone and you stopped by and asked me if I’m from Russia.
I wrote your name down, but was unable to look you up on AKO.
Take care,
ILYA DASHEVSKY
CPT, OD
CDR, HHC 61 OD BDE
I am currently employed as a civilian here in Tikrit, Iraq. There is little or no Jewish life here but it has been impressive to find that I am not alone here. I have had many thoughts on this war/occupation as a Jew and an American. Congratulations.
Katya,
You sound fascinating. I just joined the Army and would love to chat. Please email me.
daniel.grossberg@us.army.mil
-D
Katya: I was wondering, when this thing in Iraq and the trouble with achmedinnerjacket is through can we meet?
Катька!!! Ð Ñ‚Ñ‹ Ñтала похожа на Олю!