Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that after 30 years of distinguished military service and many prestigious awards and commendations Chief Warrant Officer Five Liuato Tuitele has retired from the United States Army.  

“I was honored to be invited by CW5 Liuato Tuitele and his family to attend his retirement ceremony held recently at Fort Hood, Texas,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “In addition to members of the U.S. Army, which included high ranking officers, the ceremony was attended by many members of our Samoan community in the Fort Hood area that also included Reverend and Mrs. Menise and Faavaefou Sasa who joined the families and friends of Mr. Tuitele in the celebration.”

“To the best of my knowledge,” Faleomavaega said, “Mr. Liuato Tuitele is the first and only Samoan to have achieved Chief Warrant Officer Five which is the highest level among the Warrant Officer ranks.  During the ceremony, CW5 Tuitele’s commander spoke very highly of Tuitele’s service and his leadership in the U.S. Army.”

“CW5 Liuato Tuitele is truly an inspiration to our young people, especially to Samoans in the Armed Services and those who may wish to pursue a career in the military.  In November 2001, just two months after terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in DC, and in Pennsylvania, I was surprised to learn about CW5 Tuitele’s reenlistment in the U.S. Army.  For someone who at the time had already completed 27 years in the military, CW5 Tuitele’s reenlistment was, to me, a remarkable testament to his courage and dedication to his service and country.”

“CW5 Liuato Tuitele has demonstrated that with determination and devotion you can accomplish a lot in life.  CW5 Tuitele grew up in American Samoa and was educated in our local educational system.  His humbleness and unassuming nature exemplifies the Samoan character of fa’aaloalo which sets us apart from many.”

CW5 Liuato Tuitele’s military career in the U.S. Army began in 1973 when he left the American Samoa Government where he worked as a Police Officer.  Prior to working at ASG-Department of Public Safety, he also worked as a translator for the Office of Samoa Information and KVZK-TV.

Throughout his remarkable military career, he held numerous leadership positions requiring major responsibilities with each successive rank he achieved.  In 2001 while stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Mr. Tuitele was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5.  As such, he was the Operations Officer or Senior Special Agent for the Hawaii Field Office of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).  He had jurisdiction over all felony criminal investigations in which there was an Army interest in the State of Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshal Islands, and American Samoa. 

Prior to that, Mr. Tuitele was Operations Officer at the Fort Lewis CID Battalion from 1998 to 2000.  He supervised all agents assigned to the Battalion and was responsible for overseeing the conduct of Army investigations in the states of California, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, Iowa, Oregon and Montana.

Between 1996 and 1998, CW5 Tuitele was the Field Desk Operations Officer at the 6th Military Police Group (Brigade size) at Fort Lewis, Washington.  There, he was responsible for coordinating and directing all Army investigations in all states west of the Mississippi River to include Hawaii and the Pacific Rim which covers Alaska, Japan, Korea and all of Southeast Asia.

CW5 Tuitele holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from McKendree University in Illinois, a Bachelor of Science degree from Chaminade University in Hawaii, and an Associate of Science degree from University of Hawaii.  He is currently working on his Master’s degree in Business Administration.

CW5 Tuitele is a product of the local American Samoa educational system.  He graduated with honors from Samoana High School in 1965.  He also graduated from Marist Brothers School in Le’ala and attended Midkiff Elementary School in Leone.

Mr. Liuato Tuitele was born in Leloaloa but grew up in Leone, American Samoa.  He is married to the former Sarah M. Haleck, the daughter of Reverend Max Haleck, Jr. of Pago Pago and Taulima Lauvao Haleck of Aunu’u.  They have four children and five grandchildren.  Mr. Tuitele’s parents are Mr. Save Afa Tuitele of Leone, and Mrs. Agatele Tigilau Tuitele of Ta’u.