"Just for it to be at the Statue of Liberty on July 4th for the reopening of the crown, that's definitely going to be a big thing. It's definitely a big moment for me," shepherd said.
Shepherd was born in Guyana, and came to America at age 13. Military enlistment is allowed for permanent residents who are not yet citizens.
He will be sworn at special ceremonies along with 6 other service members.
"I'm excited. I have my uniform ready, pressed. Medals ready to go. I'm so excited," Shepherd said.
After coming to New York by herself in 1986, Shepherd's mother, in a typically American story, worked hard as a domestic for seven to be able to bring her children to Queens.
"It makes me very proud. This is what you call the American dream. This is definitely the American dream," Sandra Shepherd said.
Shepherd is currently assigned to a naval recruiting office in Manhattan, but he will soon be redeployed, shipboard, after signing up for another tour in the Navy.
"Just be able to just keep moving up, keep serving my country, and just really being the kind of man that I wanted to be as a young kid growing up; to be successful, to make my family proud," he said.
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