Not even 40 years old yet, Manaia Fruean Jr. has racked up enough military medals and honors that will keep him talking stories for the rest of his life.

Currently a Sergeant First Class (E-7) stationed in Fort Irwin, California, Fruean has spent 17 years in the United States Army during which time he has traveled the world and experienced first hand the same thing that military families face at one point or another: separation.

But the family has stayed strong, with their undying faith in God; and in three years, when Fruean is up for retirement, they will be separated no more.

Fruean, 39, is the son of Tuaolo Vaivao Manaia and Fiapa’ipa’i Emelio of Pago Pago. He is married to Laurie Stevenson, the daughter of Senator Alo Dr. Paul and Sharon Stevenson of Pago Pago and Fagasa. The couple has four sons: Manaiaisiva III, To’afiaoalii, Malaetasi, and Mataialii “Teddy”.

The family lives in Arizona.

Fruean graduated from Samoana High School in 1993 and entered into military service in 1998, when he was 23 years old.

He has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 4th Oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal 6th Oak leaf Cluster.

In addition, he is also the recipient of the Jumpmaster Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Thailand Master Parachutist Badge, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and the Philippines Presidential Unit Award.

His military career took him to the war zone in Afghanistan for six months between 2004 and 2005. He was stationed at Camp Chapman and Bagram Afghanistan and fortunately, he was not injured.

Working as a human resource specialist, Fruean has been stationed in various places around the globe, including the 8th PERSCOM Unit in Korean in 1998 and 1999. Between, 1999 and 2001, Fruean was part of the 101st HHC Air Assault Division in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The US Army then moved him to Fort Lewis, Washington where he was a soldier under the 2nd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group from 2001 to 2006. He would spend the next seven years in Korea in the 39th Special Forces Detachment from 2006-2009 and then the Special Operations Command from 2009-2013.

His current duty station is the NTC Operations Group in Fort Irwin, California where he has been since 2013.

Fruean and his family would visit the territory often, throughout the course of his military career, either for vacation of family faalavelaves.

They recently spent the summer with family and friends in Pago Pago and Fagasa. Fruean and his wife spent time visiting old friends and giving their four sons an ‘up close and personal’ tour of their most memorable spots growing up as youngsters in Eagleville.

While off island, Manaia and Laurie do what they can to stay updated with what’s happening locally. The two are active readers of the Samoa News online edition and keep tabs on family and friends through facebook and social networks.

Their Samoan heritage, culture, and tradition are something they are proud of, always instilling in their family life the ‘fa’aSamoa’ practice of respect and humility, and especially the motto: God First.

The couple is trying to get their kids - all of whom were born off island and raised in the United States and the Orient - to learn how to speak, read, and comprehend the Samoan language.

When asked what he planned to do when he is up for retirement in three years, Fruean told the Samoa News, “The hardest thing about being an active duty member is, the military life does have its challenging experiences but also some of the most rewarding ones!”

He explained that since he became a part of the military, the biggest challenge and sacrifice revolved around “separation from each other and family.”

For his family in particular, separation has been up to a year at times, although his current assignment has separated him from his family “going on three years”.

Fruean said that over the years, their family, like many other military families, has experienced many changes like switching day care centers and schools.

He said that although they try to maintain consistency with the kids’ education, “the kids cope differently to different environments when we change duty stations.”

Fruean continued, “There are disruptions to friendships or other social ties” but they are thankful for social networks that allow them to stay in touch with old friends and connections.”

He added that some of the hardships they have faced include the loss of opportunities tied to a particular place, like his wife Laurie trying to find a meaningful career once they get settled in to a new military job assignment, only to be uprooted again and relocated to a new place where the job hunt starts all over again.

“It becomes a cycle that you become accustomed to,” Fruean shared, adding that all they can do is accept it and understand that separations and reunions are a way of life for military families.

“But in this experience of military life, we have learned that it comes down to you and your family making the most of those opportunities as they unfold, and embracing the opportunities as they come our way and making the most of the time, the moments of togetherness with each other and having a positive impact on people around you,” Fruean said.

“Our spiritual journey and growth has kept us grounded and have made us realize we have choices here and most times we don’t always know the right choices – and so we only know to pray over our choices in life.  And so we encourage our parents to be involved and our youth to take advantage of every opportunity in front of you - don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and always give thanks to God for a victorious life. “

Currently, the Frueans are church members of the Christ Embassy (Hawai’i) and the Phoenix First (Arizona) and they are known collectively as TeamFruean4Christ.