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Military Profile HighlightsPlease contact the Office of Insular Affairs at (202) 208-4736 or Tanya_Joshua@ios.doi.gov to share pictures of men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces from the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States. Guam native receives national award
((Excerpt Marianas Variety News, March 23, 2009) – This month, medical officer Lt. Colonel Susan Pangelinan received the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math award from the Department of Defense based on her accomplishments with the California National Guard. She was among 10 women in the military to receive the prestigious award from the Department of Defense, this month in Arlington at the Memorial for Women in Military Service for America. Pangelinan, 48, is based in Vacaville, California, where she is assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard. Pangelinan is the daughter of Artemio Pangelinan, a retired Air Force serviceman, and Chilang Pangelinan, former residents of Agana Heights, Guam. Her uncle, Pedro, currently resides in Dededo, Guam.More Specialist Iapesa Fanolua – American Samoa
(OIA, March 18, 2009) - U.S. Army Specialist Iapesa Fanolua, 24, hails from Taputimu, American Samoa. He joined the Army two years ago from American Samoa and is currently posted in Kuwait where he is a 63B light-wheeled mechanic. Specialist Fanolua joined the military to expand his options. He stated that the greatest experience he’s had is being part of the front line as infantry personnel. The Office of Insular Affairs is proud to recognize the men and women of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. American Samoan Awarded Bronze Star For Extraordinary Bravery
(SamoaNews.Com – March 2009) – On February 2, 2009, Staff Sergeant Joey Vaifanua of American Samoa, was awarded the Bronze Star for extraordinary bravery. During his deployment in Iraq from Oct. 2007 - Jan. 2009, SSG Vaifanua’s mission was to recover disabled and destroyed vehicles and to ensure all trucks were ready at all times before a mission was called and to make all plans for procedures depending on the mission. All ninety-three of his Recovery Missions were completed in an expedient and safe fashion. The SSG was the Convoy Commander for the day shift crew, totaling 22 soldiers. This was SSG Vaifanua’s second deployment in Iraq from his duty station at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He has served in the military for 14 years and is the son of the late Tupuivao Mekiafa Vaifanua and Maria Tipeni Vaifanua of Alao, American Samoa. The Office of Insular Affairs is proud to recognize the men and women of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. U.S. Army Private First Class Antoine Allen - American Samoa
PFC Antoine Zerae Allen (E3), 24, grew up an Air Force Brat but for the past four years has been, himself, serving in the U.S. Army. He is a Signal Support Systems Specialist (25U) and is at Fort Drum, New York but will be moving to Fort Lewis, Washington in March 2009. PFC Allen enlisted from Pago Pago, American Samoa to better himself and serve his country. His greatest experience since in the military has been working with communications overseas while on two tours in Baghdad Iraq and Kirkuk, Iraq that helped save lives of fellow soldiers and helped enable missions to be completed accurately and efficiently. The Office of Insular Affairs is proud to recognize the men and women of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. U.S. Army Specialist Roger Sagaga - American Samoa
U.S. Army Specialist (E4) Roger Sagaga, 24, who hails from the village of Petania Fou in American Samoa has been in the Army for the past 2+ years. He is currently posted at Camp Stryker Iraq with an OIF 08-09. Specialist Sagaga joined the U.S. military for benefits related to furthering his education and to help his family. He appreciates the discipline that he has learned while in the military. The Office of Insular Affairs is proud to recognize the men and women from the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in the United States military. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ieremia Masaga – American Samoa
(January 2009) U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (E-6) Ieremia Masaga, 27, hails from his hometown of Fagasa in American Samoa. His normal post is in Baumholder, Germany; however, he is currently on deployment in Iraq, Southwest of Baghdad, COP CARVER (Infantry). SSG Masaga enlisted in the United States Army from the “Little Rock” otherwise known as American Samoa. He has served for 4 years and 9 months and joined the military “for a better life”. SSG Masaga states that he has learned to accept things that come his way and not to judge people by who they appear to be but by what they can become. The Office of Insular Affairs is pleased to highlight the service of men and women from all the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in the United States Armed Forces. U.S. Army Specialist Magnus K. Henry
U.S. Army Specialist Magnus K. Henry, 23, hails from Afao, American Samoa and is a UH-60 Blackhawk Maintainer/Crewchief assigned to OIF 2008-2009 with 2-10 Aviation Regiment Fort Drum, New York. He has been serving for four years. Specialist Henry states that he joined to experience life away from home and he very much enjoys being able to travel and help people.
BU3 (AW) Lowe, Roy LeePictured: BU1 (SCW) OYLER and BU3 (AW) LOWE of NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATALLION (NMCB) 7 DET KV getting frocked by the Secretary of the Navy (SecNav), Donald C. Winter, in Korean village, Iraq. (Pinned or frocked=promoted). Roy Lee Lowe, II, (center, holding red folder) hails from Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.
U.S. Army Sgt. Andolin LuciosSergeant Andolin Lucios hails originally from Metipw, Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. He joined the United States Army in 2004 and is currently stationed in Alaska. Sgt. Lucios has since acclimated to the cold weather and enjoys living in Alaska. More
Palau Vice President Elias Camsek ChinVice President Elias Camsek Chin is a career military man with 23 years of distinguished service achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army before retiring. During his tour of duty, he was an Army officer serving in the Armor Corps and Aviation Corps, where he spent over 20 years as a U.S. Army combat aviator. Lieutenant Colonel Chin is rated in both fixed wing aircrafts and rotor wing (helicopter) aircrafts with over 3,000 flight hours. More Command Sgt. Maj. Ioakimo Falaniko retires after 32 years; Last 5 years dedicated to Son, Fallen in Operation Iraqi FreedomExcerpted from SamoaNews.Com (By Major Laupola) SamoaNews.com
(September 26, 2008) – Thirty-two years of distinguished served in the
United States Army was feted and celebrated when Command Sergeant Major (CSM)
Ioakimo Falaniko, originally of American Samoa, retired on September 19, 2008. His
service was recognized at a retirement/change of responsibility ceremony at
Gammon Field, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, in a ceremony presided by Major
General William McCoy, Commanding General US Army Maneuver Support Center & Fort
Leonard Wood. More
Twenty-nine Recruits from FSM Join the U.S. Army
Kolonia, Pohnpei (June 27, 2008) - On June 24 and 26, twenty-nine young Micronesians took their oath of enlistment in the U.S. Army during ceremonies at Oceanview Plaza in Pohnpei. All were sworn in by U.S. Army Captain Elizabeth Powers, Commander of the Military Entrance Processing Station in Honolulu. More ![]() Local Samoan Boy Playing Key Role in Military Communications in Baghdad
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. More Sergeant Paul M. Murphy
OIA Intern Earns Commission into the United States Army
![]() SGT. Cruz (standing), SPC. Quinata, SSG Barcinas and SPC Flores. Four Guam National Guardsmen pictured here in Afghanistan on a short break during construction work. (August
2008): Sergeant Scott E. Cruz from Guam has deployed with the
Guam National Guard to Afghanistan.
Specialist Stevick A. Edwin
Additional Military Profile Highlights
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