Silicon Valley (US): "My son is somewhere in Iraq fighting the battle, which we could not do in our homeland Kashmir," said Laxmi N Raina proudly about his 22-year- old son, a US Marine reservist who was drafted to active duty on February 26.

Sidhartha Raina, an LCPL with Marine Corps Reserves, now in Kuwait, was among the many South-Asian servicemen who left their families to answer call of duty and battle in Iraq.

But unlike most other South-Asians, Sidhartha has himself been a victim of terrorism, being one of the hundred of thousands of Kashmiri Hindus, who were driven out of Kashmir.

Born in Karan Nagar, Kashmir, and now studying in Michigan to become an automotive engineer, Sidhartha is a sniper and "a real good one too", says a proud though much relieved father, who on April 19 spoke to his son and found out that Sidhartha had now returned to Kuwait.

Describing his son as a "daredevil", Raina said his family was writing letters to Sidhartha almost every day.

"But this was a job that had to be done. If our son had not gone, somebody else's son would have to go. It could have been my neighbour's son," said Raina.

Hoping to see his son sometime in July, Raina says, "I look forward to hearing many stories when Sidhartha comes back."

PTI