U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Commanding General, administers the officer’s oath to 2nd Lt. Komi Afetse, a U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command Soldier deployed to CJTF-HOA, during a ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb 14, 2015. Afetse immigrated to the U.S. from Togo and received his commission through the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Accession program, or direct commission (courtesy photo)

2nd Lt. Komi Afetse, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and Ambassador Dawn Liberi, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, pose for a photo during the 239th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration in Bujumbura, Burundi, Nov. 8, 2014. Afetse immigrated to the U.S. from Togo, and earned his commission through the Army Reserve Officer Accession Program on Feb. 14, 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Allison Pittam/Released)

The U.S. is known as “the land of opportunity.” American history has many stories of people who immigrated with little or nothing in search of a better life. For one man, the tales of the American dream inspired him to do just that.