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NEWS | Oct. 13, 2006

Viviendo el sueno Americano: For Airman who came to U.S. as a refugee, the American dream is to serve

By Maj. Jack Miller 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

"Viviendo el Sueño Americano or Living the American Dream" for many of us is as easy as reaching out and grabbing it; our country was founded on that premise. For Staff Sergeant Lizmailyn Bermudez, the American dream was not so easy. While growing up in Communist Cuba her American Dream involved a terrifying sea adventure, eight months in a refugee encampment, and learning a foreign language. 

Sergeant Bermudez was born in Matanzas, Cuba, and like most children she had goals and aspirations to do something special with her life. But she quickly learned that here world was different. "I realized at about the age of six that the difference between my world and other places was the lack of freedom," said Sergeant Bermudez. "If you have no ambition it's alright because you have no responsibility but everything is hard, simple thing like getting food and toiletries was difficult." 

Sergeant Bermudez's real adventure started when she was about 14 when the decision was made to leave Cuba with her mother and sister. Many options were discussed to include helicopters, airplanes and boats. The family finally decided on taking a boat to America and the day their boat was to leave, their public transportation failed to get them there on time so they missed the departure. As it turned out the boat was sunk by the Cuban government in the bay, and nearly 70 Cubans died. 

Not to be discouraged they tried again but this time sold their house to buy a boat. The night before the planned departure, the captain of their boat fled to America without them leaving them without a boat and a house. 

Finally, at age 17, Sergeant Bermudez set sail with her sister, mother and six other, on a boat destined for America. The boat, which was anything but seaworthy, was built by car mechanics. It was constructed by welding sheets of steel together, forming a box and had an improvised motor made from a van engine. 

Once at sea they rescued four other Cuban rafters, bringing their total to 13 onboard. While at sea they encountered 10 foot swells, and as the waves pounded the boat they began to take on water which ultimately damaged the engine. 

With no engine and fierce seas, the battle for freedom became a desperate struggle for survival. "There were times that we thought we might not survive and some of the passengers began to panic, but I just always knew that I would make it," said Sergeant Bermudez. 

After 33 horrifying hours at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard ultimately came to the rescue. They were eventually transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where they were processed into a refugee camp. "Once I arrived at Gitmo I had no idea what to expect. They put us in a tent city and we waited. In the end we waited eight months and 13 days before we left on a plane from Gitmo to Homestead AFB in Florida," said Sergeant Bermudez. 

Sergeant Bermudez said she learned a great deal while at Gitmo. She was able to learn English from the Army guards and helped them learn some Spanish. But the greatest thing she learned while there was that she wanted to some how give something back to the country that brought her freedom. Sergeant Bermudez added "I decided I had a debt to pay, and I could do that by serving in the military." 

After waiting several years to get legal residency in the United States, Sergeant Bermudez enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 23. Once on active duty she began working in Health Service Management. Not to rest on her laurels, Sergeant Bermudez worked towards getting her U.S. citizenship which then allowed her to apply to the intelligence career field. "I think I can understand why people do things differently, people of different cultures think and understand in different ways. You don't know it until you lived it. I think that helps me in intelligence," Sergeant Bermudez added. 

When asked to compare her life as a Cuba and now as an American Sergeant Bermudez responded, "I do think like a Cuban, it is my heritage but I'm an American, and proud of it. If I had any advice for those born in America it would be to appreciate what you have, sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we have to fight for it. I am thankful for everything I have now. 

Sergeant Bermudez is now 29 year of age and has proudly served for six years in the U.S. Air Force. She currently works in the Operational Support Squadron as an Intelligence analyst. She is married, has two children, one and two years old and is "Viviendo el Sueño Americano-Living the American Dream."