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We solute our Samoa Sons and Daughters, who, together with other brave Americans, are Fighting Against Terrorists and Tyrants! We solute all soldiers, Salors, and Airmen. God bless you all and may He keep you safe and return home proud. We'll remember you in our prayers. We'll remember you in our conversations. We'll remember you in our actions. Final Roll Call A Special Solute To Our Fallen Soldiers Army Specialist Farao Kevin Letufuga Army Private Jonathan I. Falaniko Army Staff Sergeant Salamo J. Tuialu'ulu'u Army Sergeant Tina Safaira Time Army Staff Sergeant Ioasa F. Tavae Army Staff Sergeant Frank Tia'i Army Master Sergeant Tulsa Tulaga Tuliau Army Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Sifoa Loa Army Staff Sergeant Michael Fuga Army Private First Class David Tipo Toomalatai Marine Sergeant Faoa "AP" Apineru Army Sergeant Nimo Westhill Masaniai Tauala Army Sergeant Raymond Sasa Sevaaetasi Army Private First Class Timothy Ray Vimoto Army Specialist Avealalo Milo Army Sergeant Lui Tumanuvao Marine Lt. Col. Max A. Galea'i Army Staff Sergeant Loleni W. Gandy "They gave their lives so that we, and others, shall be free." Defend America "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them." Franklin D. Roosevelt

Obama War Room
President Barack Obama meets with his national security team for his regular monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room of the White House, Oct. 20, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Biography

Command Sergeant Major Iuniasolua T. Savusa, USA
Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Pacific Command

Command Sergeant Major Iuniasolua T. Savusa serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader and advisor to the United States Pacific Command Combatant Commander and staff. He provides an enlisted perspective on AOR strategic vision, theater security cooperation, including partner nations enlisted leadership development, and the operational readiness of 430,000 United States military personnel. CSM Savusa creates awareness and provides guidance on the commander's theater strategic objectives to all United States enlisted personnel. He serves as the senior mentor for all command senior enlisted personnel assigned to service component Headquarters and Sub-Unified Commands, as well as Joint Task Force command senior enlisted leaders. As a command representative, he presents an enlisted perspective to countries requesting assistance in developing and maintaining a corps of professionally committed technically and tactically competent enlisted leaders.

CSM Iuniasolua T. Savusa is a native of American Samoa. He assumed duties as Command Sergeant Major, International Security Assistance Force/North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan on 11 July 2008 and later as Command Sergeant Major, United States Forces, Afghanistan on 3 October 2008 (a dual-hatted command). CSM Savusa began his military career over 30 years ago on 17 June 1975. As an Infantryman, he spent the majority of his career in infantry, ranger, air assault, and airborne assignments. CSM Savusa has continually served in leadership positions, such as team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, scout platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, senior air assault instructor, chief instructor light fighters infantry course, Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, first sergeant, and operations sergeant major.

CSM Savusa has also served as battalion CSM of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., brigade CSM of 3d Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., CSM, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, La., CSM for Southern European Task Force (Airborne), Vicenza, Italy, and as the CSM United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Heidelberg, Germany.

In support of the Global War on Terrorism, in 2002 he deployed to Afghanistan and served as the CSM, Task Force Rakkasan, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Operation Enduring Freedom I. In 2003, he deployed as the CSM, 3d Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasan), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Operation IRAQI FREEDOM I. In 2005, he again deployed with Southern European Task Force (Airborne) as the CSM, Combined Joint Task Force - 76, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VI.

CSM Savusa is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 46 and has completed all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, to include the First Sergeant Course. He has also completed the Ranger Course, Airborne School, Jump Master School, Drill Sergeant School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder Course, Battle Staff Course, and the (Keystone) Command Senior Enlisted Course.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal with "V" (2nd oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (7th Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Ribbon (Bronze Service Star), GWOT Expeditionary Medal (with Arrow Head Device), GWOT Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (9th Award), Korean Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Army Service Ribbon, Multinational Force & Observer Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Italian Army Parachutist Badge.

Source: U.S. Pacific Command

Military_

Warriors Born: American Samoans in the U.S. Military from Rachel Kahn Taylor on Vimeo.

Please submit general interest stories about our military servicemen and women to be posted here. Samoan Americans are very proud of their sons and daughters serving in the US military, and reading about them is always encouraging. Use the Contact Form to send information on enlistments, promotion, and new assignments. Thank you.

• Faleomavaega nominee, Fa'aolataga Polou, to be offered appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
• February 9, 2011: Faleomavaega nominates four young men and women from American Samoa to the United States military service academies
• Website Links - Directory
• Military Career
• Archived Military Stories
• Faleomavaega and Samoan Community in Washington, DC celebrate the life of SSG Loleni Gandy with family
  

Assignments and Promotions

• Second Lieutenant Gibson Sale, Jr. graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, 22 May 2010
  
  
  
• Two sons of Samoa selected for promotion to Colonel in U.S. Air Force - Stephen L. Su'a-Filo and Stanley Ulualofaiga Snow, Jr.
  
• LTC Leafaina Tavai-Yahn makes promotion list for Colonel
      
• CSM Foua Uini appointed Command Sergeant Major of 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery

  Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmie Nelson, left, the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade command sergeant major, gives newly appointed 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Command Sergeant Major Foua Uini, the command sergeant major appointment oath Jan. 6 at Tobin Wells.

• PFC Daniel Maga Graduates Basic Training, Ft Jackson, SC
  
  Private Fist Class (PFC), Daniel Maga, Finance Specialist (44C), graduated from Basic Training at the US Army Basic Combat Training Center of Excellence, Ft Jackson, South Carolina, Friday, 27 March 2009. PFC Maga completed the first 9 weeks of Basic Training, where he was taught soldiering skills, and will continue for the next seven weeks of Advanced Individual training with classroom instruction in accounting techniques that dealt with accounting principles and procedures, preparation and maintenance of financial reports and budgets, statistical analyses in order to help interpret financial data, computation of pay and deductions.
  
  
• SSG Taumua Graduates Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course
  
  Staff Sergeant (SSG-E-6) Faasi'usiuga Taumua of Fagalii/Poloa, AS has graduated Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course (BNCOC) class 92A 09-025, from the United States Army Quartermaster Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Ft Lee, Virginia, Friday, 20 MAR 2009. SSG Taumua graduated with honors and was listed amongst the top six soldiers who made the commandants list.
  
  
• Antoinette Ponafala promoted to Sergeant, E-5
  
  Antoinette Ponafala was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, E-5, on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 in front of her unit, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion at Ft Bragg, NC. Antoinette Ponafala?s mother, Anna Suani Ponafala Fuimaono was given the honor to promote her daughter. Chief Warrant Officer 1, Tauosose Tupua of Vailoatai and Sergeant Major John Letuli of Iliili accompanied Mrs Fuimaono in front of the formation before the promotion ceremony.
  
  
• CSM Charles M. Tobin Selected as the CSM for the Sustainment Brigade Special Operations (Airborne), Ft Bragg, NC
  
  Toa o le Vateatea Samoa Association (TVSA) Ft Bragg, NC, welcomes Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Tobin, a native of Lotopa, Samoa to his new post as the CSM for the Sustainment Brigade Special Operations (Airborne), Ft Bragg, North Carolina. CSM Tobin is the son of the late Michael and Barbara Tobin of Lotopa, Samoa. CSM Tobin came to Ft Bragg from the 377th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC), New Orleans, Louisiana.
  
  
• CSM Iuniasolua Savusa selected as the new Command Sergeant Major of NATO's International Security Assistance Force
  
  CSM Savusa will be leaving USAREUR and Seventh Army where he has been command sergeant major since May, 2006 to become the new command sergeant major for NATO?s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. With his new assignment, Savusa will take over as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) of NATO forces in Afghanistan. There, he will rejoin his former boss, General David D. McKiernan who recently took over as commander of NATO's ISAF in Afghanistan.
  
  
• Its official now, CSM Tuileama Nua 44th MEDCOM CSM has been selected for the CSM of the Pacific regional Medical Command. He will be heading to Tripler, Hawaii this summer.
  
  Congratulations!!!!!
  
  Command Sergeant Major Tuileama T. Nua
  44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg
  has been selected as
  Command Sergeant Major
  United States Army Pacific Regional Medical Command
  
  Please pass on your congratulations
  to CSM Nua and his wife Anita
  CSM Nua's email address is:
  tui.nua@us.army.mil