Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A daughter of American Samoa has etched her name firmly in US Army history as the first Samoan female to be inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame, in acknowledgement of her dedicated service in a distinguished career that spanned more than four decades.

The Induction Reception honoring Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) Hope Leatuvai Jamias-Bean, US Army (Retired), took place on May 6, 2024 at Wrexham Hall, Chesterfield, Virginia.

The Quartermaster Hall of Fame award is the highest form of recognition the US Army Quartermaster Corps Program offers. This much coveted award honors individuals who are judged to have made the most significant contributions to the overall history and traditions of the Quartermaster Corps.

CW4(R) Hope L. Jamias-Bean and her proud brother Mapu Saei Jamias after she was inducted into the US Army Quartermaster Corps Hall of Fame on May 6, 2024 at Chesterfield, Virginia. Read story in Tuesday’s issue. [courtesy photo]

"I feel very blessed and humbled," CW4(R) Bean told Samoa News in an email. "And I give all honor and glory to God for His grace and mercy throughout my military career. It's been a long journey but He was with me all the way which is why it has ended on such a high note.

"I hope this final milestone in my career will encourage and inspire other young Samoan women who aspire to pursue a military or civilian career to strive for the best and to always seek God's guidance."

CW4(R) Hope Leatuvai Jamias-Bean is the seventh of 12 children born to Leonardo and Ma'ave Saei Jamias. She has seven sisters (one is deceased) and four brothers.

Her father left his home in Ilocos Norte, Philippines when he was 24 years old and migrated to Hawaii where he met her mother who had also migrated to the Sunshine State, and the rest is history.

Her mother was born and raised in Fitiuta, Manu'a but had moved to Hawaii as a 23 year-old.

Hope Leatuvai Jamias enlisted in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) on June 27, 1975, just 20 days after graduating from W.R. Farrington High School in Honolulu, Hawaii where she was born in 1957.

Her military and civilian educational accomplishments and accolades include numerous NCO and Warrant Officer Courses, the Total Army Instructor Course, the Senior Warrant Officer Advanced Course, the Supply Management and Officer Course, numerous DA Civilian education courses and she is also a graduate of the Civilian Education System Advanced Course.

She initially served as an enlisted Private First Class (PFC), eventually earning the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC) before transitioning into the Warrant Officer career field in her 12th year of service, during which she advanced to the prestigious rank of Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4).  

CW4(R) Bean vividly remembers those early years in the service and the challenges she faced as a young Samoan woman in a male-dominated environment.

"I learned through trial and error," she revealed. "Growing up in a home where our first language was Samoan and living the Fa'asamoa moral values of respect and service without reservation, I suppose made the transition into military life more easier for me.

"But there were challenges nonetheless that were gender and minority-based which I viewed as iron, because just as iron sharpens iron, it also sharpens your resolve and perception of others.

"I remembered my mother's words in the many heart-to-heart talks my sisters and I had with her, or when she reprimanded us for something we did that she didn't like, where she would always emphasize the importance of hard work, being honest and choosing to do the right thing.

 "It was then that I realized how lucky and fortunate I was to have had such a God-fearing woman for a mother, which inspired me to forge ahead with confidence striving to be the best I could be in everything to make her proud."

During the course of her service, Hope served in overseas tours in Korea, Germany and Hawaii, and served OCONUS tours in Ft. Monroe, Ft. Myer, as the PBO in the 7th ID (Light) Field Artillery Brigade and as the Team Chief for the DISCOM, DIVARTY and Division Troops, Director/Instructor of the Warrant Officer Basic Course, with temporary assignment to the 49th QM Group, and as the Senior (920A) Evaluator for the Chief of Staff Supply Excellence Award Program.  

She culminated her Army military career as the MACOM Logistics Advisor, Criminal Investigations Command (CIC), Fort Belvoir, VA. 

CW4(R) Bean’s initiatives as a Quartermaster Warrant Officer were designing and developing supply training assessment programs, transitioning organizations from manual accounting systems to legacy systems to the Global Combat Service Support – Army/Tactical (GCSS A/T) System and developing/initiating Command Supply Discipline Program (CSDP) professional development training for soldiers and leaders. 

She coached, trained, and motivated supply personnel to exceed standards, transformed barely functioning supply rooms to commendable ones and led teams to compete and win the Supply Excellence Award at the Department of the Army level.

It is evident from all the military and civilian awards and accolades she has garnered over the years, that she was not only committed and resilient when she found herself in a completely different environment as an 18 year-old WAC recruit, but her solid educational foundation helped.

The army veteran began her education in Honolulu at the Kalihi-Uka Elementary School, progressing to S.B. Dole Intermediate before entering and graduating from W.R. Farrington High School in 1975.

Reflecting on those early years, she stated that she did not have any future goals and the counselors in the schools she attended were very selective on who they counseled.

"However, God was watching over me and He made sure my mother would set me on the right path," Hope reminisced. "So while my friends were out playing, we were closely monitored by mom who checked if we had done our chores everyday after school and attendance at evening prayers was a must."

But like most teenagers, there were times when she got in with the wrong crowd and crossed the line.

"That rebellious phase didn't last long though because my brothers weren't having any of it," she recalled. "My brother Mapu played a pivotal role in that part of my life. He was a very strong force as an older brother who set an example of hard work and selfless love.

"I remember when I was cutting classes and he found out that I was suspended from school. He gave me an unforgettable Samoan discipline 'sasa' which I will never forget! Afterwards, he sat me down and told me, 'I work hard to build our family up and I expect you to do the same.'

"I never forgot his disappointment and his words that day and since then, I have strived to do the best I could in all my endeavors and live up to his expectations to improve our family's quality of life."

With that in mind, she studied hard as she began her tertiary education at the Hawaii Pacific University where she graduated with an Associate Degree in Management and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Resource Development, then secured her Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Administration and Master of Science Degree in Administration at the Central Michigan University.

Asked why she decided to join the military, she replied that it was an opportunity "to serve my country and help my family while at the same time, it was a chance to learn a skill, travel and be all I could be."

Four of her siblings also joined the US Armed Forces.

Brothers Mapu S. Jamias and Leonardo S. Jamias retired from the Army with the rank of Lt. Colonel, Trevor Tuiolosega retired from the Army with the rank of Sergeant First Class E7 (SFCE7), and her sister Darlene A. Verburg served three years in the active Army.

After military retirement, Hope continued her career in logistics as a government servant.  

Her Army civilian assignments include Department of the Army Civilian Logistics Intern Manager, Civilian Logistics Career Management Office (CLCMO), Chief, Highway Movements and Operations Branch, Transportation Division, Training Directorate Combined Army Support Command (CASCOM) and as a Training Specialist in Transportation Automated Information Systems.

During her tenure as the Highway Movement’s Branch Chief, she developed the first Program of Instruction (POI) for the Mobility Warrant Officer Advanced Course (MWOAC).  

Through leading, training and mentorship, she was the driving force behind the success of the TRADOC Accreditation evaluation which rated the Transportation School as a TRADOC School of Excellence which contributed to the Combined Arms Support Command receiving Center of Excellence.  

She culminated her career as the Career Program Manager with the Army Civilian Logistics Career Management Office (CLCMO) Fort Lee, VA.  

In this position she provided career management for over 22,000 civilians in Career Program (CP) 13 – Supply careerists Army-wide.  

Her responsibilities included execution of the Army Civilian Training Education System (ACTEDS), lifecycle management of the Army’s civilian logistics workforce, training Army civilians as an integral part of enhancing the professional development of the Army Materiel Command (AMC) workforce, ultimately ensured a strong and viable logistics workforce for years to come.

CW4(R) Bean’s awards and decorations include the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award).  

She is a Demonstrated Master Logistician (DML), a recipient of the Order of Saint Barbara, Order of Saint Martin, Order of Saint Christopher, inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Quartermaster Regiment and most recent award, which is the highest form of recognition the US Army Quartermaster Corps Program offers, Induction into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame.

Commenting once again on her recent induction, CW4(R) Hope Bean thanked God for His guidance and protection through the more than four decades of her service, the US Army Quartermaster Foundation for the honor accorded to her as an inductee of the Quartermaster Hall of Fame, and attributed her success to her parents who instilled the love for God as a strong foundation in her life, her brothers and sisters, her friends and members of the Samoan and Filipino communities for their love and support.

"There is a Samoan saying that it takes a village to raise a respectful, humble and successful son or daughter," she quoted. "This is so true because all these people were there for me and supported me.

"Especially my mother because she gave birth to me, cared, molded and nurtured me physically and spiritually to be the woman I am today. She always used to tell me and my 11 siblings when we were young, to honor God in whatever you do and He will honor you and raise you up in whatever situation you are in. 

"She would also encourage us to remember our Samoan heritage and the importance of respect and service in our culture. Her favorite Samoan saying, 'E iloa le tama ma le teine a'oa'oina i lana tu, o lana nofo, o lana savali ma lana tautala.' (People will know a boy or girl who has been taught well by their parents by the way they stand, sit, walk and talk.).

"These are indeed words of wisdom which will help guide the young generation to a successful path in life and I made sure to pass them on to my children, who in turn will pass it on to their children."

Her seven sisters are Flower Tuiolosega (deceased), Claudia Fuata, Reyne Husky, Darlene Verburg, Corazon Huihui, Roselina Stone and Lourdes Jamias.

Her four brothers are Trevor Tuiolosega, Mapu Saei Jamias, Abraham Saei Jamias and Leonardo S. Jamias.

CW4(R) Hope Leatuvai Jamias-Bean resides in Chesterfield, Virginia with her husband Danny Bean. They have five children (4 daughters and 1 son) and seven grandchildren.

Their children are Patience (44), Rachel (39), Danielle (37), Aimee (31) and Greg (30).

Asked what her plans are for the future, she replied, "Love and give love unconditionally, forgive as quickly as possible and live each day like it is my last."