Ft. Bragg
bids farewell to three Toa o Samoa and a sister from Tonga
by Maj. Tauapai
Laupola
Special for Samoa News
"May you
travel with our Lord." This was the theme amongst the three
separate gatherings to bid farewell to Spec. Hana Moors, Capt.
Fitiuta Galeai, Capt. Pili Faagai and Maj. Manu Yasuda.
Supporting Samoan
service members that pass through Ft. Bragg, N.C. and other states
nearby is our goal commented Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) Totolua
"Koko" Yandall, of Leone, AS, who is serving over 36
years in the U.S. Army. The sentiments were echoed during Spec.
Moors departure at Pope Air Force Base by Command Sgt. Maj. (CSM)
Tuileama Nua, of Ta'u, Manu'a, serving over 30 years in the US
Army.
Spec. Hana Moors
was born and raised in Pavaia'i, American Samoa and attended
Pava'ia'i Elementary and Tafuna High School. She moved to Long
Beach, Calif. with her mother Faaliga Moors after her freshman
year and enlisted in the US Army after graduation. Spec. Moors
is stationed at Ft. Bragg and is deploying on a 15-month tour
with Delta Battery, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Regiment.
According to
1st Lt. Jonathan Oblon, Rear Detachment Commander, Spec. Moors
is one of the best in his unit. She is tactically and technically
proficient. When asked for parting comments, she replied, "please
tell my mom not to worry and that I'll be okay."
Upon arrival
in the war zone, Spec. Moors sent the following e-mail:
"While
I was sitting at my corner watching the people I was getting
ready to deploy with, something hit me. Every soldier is surrounded
by families and friends; everywhere they turn, there was someone
behind them, next to them, telling them, it's okay, come back
safe, I'll be waiting for you. An abundance of hugs and kisses
were evident everywhere while some are holding on to their loved
one's hands like they don't want to let go. And all of a sudden,
my phone rang, once, twice then I picked it up. Out of no where
a voice from the other end was sayingwhy didn't you tell us you're
deploying today. We'll be there in a little bitI didn't even
know what just happened.... to be honest I really didn't know
who it was and why does this person have to come to my deployment.
Now that I
have a chance to absorb everything, I understand why I was sad
that day until I saw you and Command Sgt. Maj. Nua.
Thank you
so much from the bottom of my heart.....if you and Command Sgt.
Maj. Nua, Sgt. 1st Class Alo-Steffany and Dayna and Capt. Galea'i
didn't show up, I'll probably be crying in the bathroom... but
thank you for your love and support, it has given me courage
and the strength to shed no tears and understands the value of
family. Thank you and may God bless you and all Samoans at Ft.
Bragg.
Signed,
Hana Toetu
Moors.
Capt. Fitiuta
Galea'i re-deployed from Iraq in early March 2008, on his way
back to American Samoa. He has been deployed since October 2006.
As he reminisces
about his tour, Capt. Galea'i stated, "It was hard to leave
my family, especially not knowing if that will be the last time
I will see them."
Capt. Galea'i
lost his father and his brother during his deployment to Iraq
with the 351st Civil Affairs Command out of Mountain View, California.
Capt. Galea'i thanked all the Samoans at Ft. Bragg who welcomed
him in their homes, making his re-deployment a positive experience.
The highlight of his re-deployment at Ft. Bragg was the trip
to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland in support of
Sgt. 1st Class Senetenari Polu who was a victim of an Improvised
Explosive Device (IED) in Iraq.
Capt. Pili Faagai
of Futiga, American Samoa arrived at Ft. Bragg in early March,
2008 in preparation for his deployment. He was born and raised
in Futiga, American Samoa to Pili Faagai of Futiga and Pausea
Faimeasoo of Fagaitua. He is a 1979 graduate of Marist Brothers
High School in Malaeloa.
Capt. Faagai
deployed with the 311th Expeditionary Support Command (ESC),
USAR, out of Los Angeles, California as the Chief Communication
Officer for the ESC. He is married to Alana Faagai of Hawaii
and they have five children.
Before he departed
Ft. Bragg, Capt. Faagai commented, "I am amazed by the hospitality
shown by senior Samoan military personnel at Ft. Bragg. Their
ability to host and support soldiers coming in and going out
of Ft. Bragg is a feat to strive for and a humble lesson for
me. Their actions give substance to the Biblical saying; "friends
for all seasons and kin in moments of crisis. Thanks for your
love and support."
Ft. Bragg is
fortunate to meet Maj. Manu Smith Yasuda who deployed with Capt.
Faagai out of the 311th ESC.
Maj. Yasuda was
born in Tonga to Sione Lauhaki and Nonu Mahoni and was later
adopted by Bill and Carol Smith of San Diego, CA. Her adopted
family moved to American Samoa in the late 1980s for a tour with
the Federal Aviation Administration. Maj. Yasuda graduated from
Tafuna High School in 1988, continued her education at ASCC and
later transferred to the University of Hawaii (UH), Manoa where
she received her commission in 1993.
During this deployment,
Maj. Yasuda will be the 311th ESC Current Operation, Night Battle
Captain. She is a Command and General Staff Officer College graduate.
Maj. Yasuda sends her alofa to her alma mater in American Samoa
as well as UH. Malo e lelei, soifua, and God bless!
The following
Samoans at Ft. Bragg are providing the support group for Samoan
soldiers that are stationed at "The Home of the Paratrooper
& Special Operations": CW5 Totolua "Koko"
Yandall & Gwen (Leone), Sgt. 1st Class Taisi Steffany-Alo
& Dayna (Fagasa/Poloa), Staff Sgt. Taumua Faasi'usiuga (Poloa),
Sgt. Maj. John Letuli (Futiga), Sgt. Doreen Fiaui (Amaua), Spec.
Rapi Leota & Emerald (Pago Pago/Fagasa), Pvt. 1st Class
Angel Fofoa (Leone), Pvt. 1st Class Nephi Isumu (Nu'uuli), Spec.
Jeremiah Vaeotama (Fagaitua), Staff Sgt. Derek Afalava &
Violeta (Aoloau/Nuuuli), Sgt. Burgie Perofeta & Corinna (Tafuna/Afao
& Leone), Spec. Aliimau Kilisi (Auasi), Tiaseugogo Tiapula
(Laulii), Sgt. Venus Taumanupepe (Utulei), Susuga Gafatasi Fuimaono
Ponafala & Faletua Ana (Vailoa), Lucia Bartley & family
(Tafuna), Sgt. Penu Alaimaleata & Peka (Alofau), Sgt. 1st
Class Fonoti Mata'utia (Poloa), Sgt. Monty Loa (Pago Pago), Fau
Tufele, Spec. Filemoni Fanuaea & Rosa (Tafuna), Spec. Christina
Auvaa (Laulii), Pvt. 1st Class Bud Luuga (Indiana), Staff Sgt.
(P) Sualauvi Tuimalealiifano & Shannon (Falelatai/Pago Pago),
Sgt. Michael Pless & Brenda, Elsa Talalemotu Smith &
family (Fagaitua), CWO1 Tauasose Tupua & family (Vailoa),
Staff Sgt. Malua Malua & Katherine, Derrick & Nita Leomiti,
(Pavaia'i & Vatia) Command Sgt. Maj. Tuileama Nua & Anita
(Ta'u), Maj. Tauapai Laupola & Lana (Afono/Fagaitua &
Pago Pago).
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