 One of the earliest Sikh soldiers in the American military was Bhagat Singh Thind, who although not a U.S. citizen joined the United States Army and served in World War I. Bhagat Singh Thind was the first Sikh in US military service to be granted the right to wear a turban while on active duty in the US Army.Thind requested citizenship at the end of the war, but was refused.He was granted citizenship in 1936.