Local Samoan Boy Playing Key Role in Military Communications in Baghdad

by Tina Mata'afa
Samoa News

Local boy U.S. Army Specialist Benjamin Taai of American Samoa is playing a key role in a complex system of military communications that includes information sharing for more than 12,000 soldiers, civilians, and foreign military forces as Multi-National Division Baghdad (MND-B) Webmaster.

He basically holds the responsibility of the entire mission of the CIC (Command Information Center) being able to collaborate all of their information and data on the portal," said non-commissioned officer-in-charge Sgt. 1st Class Merritt in a Black Anthem Military News report. "It's a heck of a lot of responsibility for a specialist to have. He is extremely sharp and, as a matter of fact, he is the system expert for the portal, as numerous brigades come to him."

Spec. Taai, currently serving out his eleventh month of a 15-month deployment in Iraq, is among 50 soldiers and civilian contractors under the command of Maj. Bennett Hayth, officer-in-charge of the division's automation management office, 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division - Baghdad.

They are responsible for providing all of the local area network services to the division headquarters and simply put, they are "the one-stop-shop for every bit of information flow at the 4th Inf. Div. Command Information Center," said Black Anthem.

Maj. Hayth and Sgt. 1st Class Merritt agree that Spec. Taai is a "huge contributor" as portal administrator. They also note that Spec. Taai works at a skill level well above that normally expected by a soldier of his rank and his expertise puts him on par with his professional-level.  Specialist Taai, 23, a 2003 Leone High School honor graduate, is the only son of Nevo and Ruta Lemana Taai of Tafuna. He has four sisters - Isabella, Sinoti and Bernadette, who live in Washington state and Sosefina, who lives in American Samoa.

Ben did not want much but when his heart is set on a goal it is sure to be accomplished," Sinoti told Samoa News. "He is very unique in his own ways and style. He is our only brother and he has made us all proud."

Spec. Taai serves in a team of systems administrators that programs and maintain two unclassified and secret Department Of Defense networks.

Among his list of responsibilities are: configuring, developing, and maintaining Microsoft Office Sharepoint Services (MOSS) 2007; establishing web servers to properly and accurately publish all classified and/or secret documents and products shared over a network of more than 12,000 soldiers, civilians and foreign military forces.

Additionally, he is Systems Administrator for Adobe Connect (a system that provides real time storyboards, audio, video, and desktop sharing, primarily used for Generals and staff officers to collaborate on unit missions in real time and serves as a consultant to subordinate units in establishing techniques and procedures for proper configuration of MOSS installations.Spec. Taai is single. After high school, he headed straight for the military and completed basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga. He has been in the military for five years and is based at Ft. Hood, Texas, 4th Infantry Division.

He said, in addition to his parents - his grandparents Rev. Taai and the late Mrs. Sinoti Taai Lemana, aunt Isapela Lutgen, uncles Moli Lemana and Tames Taai - have played huge roles in his life.

In an e-mail to Samoa News he sends thanks to his family and church members at the Methodist Church of Futiga, for their daily prayers and support."

To my parents, my grandfather and family, fa'afetai mo talosaga, fa'afetai foi i le Ekalesia Metotisi i Futiga mo talosaga molia i lea aso ma lea aso. Tatou toe feiloa'i i se taimi oi lumana'i i le alofa o le Atua," Spec. Taai wrote. "Thank you for your support."

In Iraq, he is meeting with other Samoans and says at the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad, Iraq there is an official Samoan affiliated group called "Toa O Samoa" the name given to soldiers of Samoan ancestry serving in the US Armed Forces.

He said "it's great to interact with other fellow Samoans. It makes me feel at home sometimes and it helps me cope with homesickness."

As he serves out his second deployment to Iraq, his family says: "We pray for his safe return and for the rest of the soldiers out there. His family just wants him to know that we love and miss him dearly."