Chad served in Iraq in 2009. His dad and sister were also in the military, but he discovered his family’s military service went back for generations.
Then he took an AncestryDNA test and was even more shocked by his results.
Imagine taking a DNA test and finding out you have genetic ties to the very region where you served.
Chad shared a bit more of his story with us.
What Did the Test Results Mean to Chad?
Chad grew up identifying as Hispanic. Like many of us, he lived his culture through food.
“My whole life I grew up thinking of myself as a Hispanic kid. I had my beans and rice every day. I really didn’t learn a lot about Middle Eastern culture until I joined the military.”
Given his Hispanic roots, the Native American and Iberian Peninsula in his test results made sense. Those are two of the most common ethnicities for people with Hispanic heritage, since it accounts for both indigenous ancestry and Spanish ancestry.
The 11% Caucasus ethnicity (which covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey) on the other hand was a shock.
But what did it mean to him? Was it a happy discovery? A sobering one?
For Chad, in his own words, it was about belonging:
“[In Takrit] I was fighting with Iraqis. I wasn’t fighting the people of Iraq. I’m proud I served with other Middle Eastern people more than anything.”
Putting Together the Unknown Pieces of His Past
Chad grew up in New Mexico. Both sides of his family were a mystery, but he knew tidbits.
His great great grandfather on his dad’s side came from Mexico, but he had been adopted in the U.S. by the Lozano family. His surname was supposed to be Baptista or Batista.
Another great-great-grandfather Domenico Luchini was from Italy. Via Ancestry records, Chad found out that after moving to America, his ancestor Domenico served in the Civil War.
Through Ancestry, Chad also found a cousin. She shared copies with him of correspondence between his great-great-grandfather Domenico and his family back in Italy.
The Next Question for Chad
So the question in Chad’s mind now is: Where’s the Caucasus heritage from? Chad’s half-brother (who shares the same dad) took the test and had no Caucasus ethnicity in his results.
Even full siblings can have different ethnic mixes. So it’s possible that the Caucasus ethnicity did come from their father, and Chad’s brother simply didn’t inherit it.
Chad’s Caucasus ancestry could also come from his mother’s side. His sister’s also taking the test, and her results might give Chad more clues about which side of the family the Caucasus heritage stemmed from.
What Will You Learn About You?
You might have connections to parts of the world you never imagined. Or maybe you have ancestors who left behind tantalizing glimpses of their lives.
Start your own journey of discovery with one simple step: Just take an AncestryDNA test.
A warm thank you to Chad for sharing his story. No Department of Defense or government endorsement is implied.