230 years later, Pulaski becomes a U.S. citizen

WASHINGTON -- Finally, Gen. Casimir Pulaski became an American citizen Friday, 230 years after the Polish nobleman died fighting for the as-yet-unborn United States.

President Obama signed a joint resolution of the Senate and the House that made Pulaski an honorary citizen.

Pulaski's contribution to the American colonies' effort to leave the British Empire began with a flourish. He wrote a letter to Gen. George Washington, the Revolution's leader, with the declaration: "I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it."

Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Polish American, had been pushing for the honorary citizenship since 2005. "Pulaski made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and he deserves nothing but the highest honor and recognition for his service," Kucinich said then.

Washington had heard of the young Pole from Benjamin Franklin, Washington's first ambassador to France. Franklin told Washington of Pulaski's exploits that had made him "renowned throughout Europe for the courage and bravery he displayed in defense of his country's freedom."

Washington let Pulaski join the fight, and Pulaski made a name for himself as a horseman, eventually to be known as the "father of the American cavalry."

He died before the British were driven away. In October 1779, he led a cavalry assault to save the Southern port of Savannah, Ga., was wounded and taken aboard the American ship USS Wasp. He died at sea two days later. AP