Taguba to address UH graduates
The Wahiawa High graduate investigated abuse at Abu Ghraib
Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, a Wahiawa High School* graduate who investigated prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, will be the commencement speaker at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Dec. 18.
Antonio Taguba: He is the Army's second highest-ranking Filipino American
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Taguba, the son of a World War II Philippine Scout who joined the U.S. Army and also served in the Korean War, moved to Hawaii with his family when he was 11. He was born in the Manila district of Sampaloc and is one of eight children.
He is the second-highest-ranking Filipino American in the Army.
Taguba graduated from Iowa State University in 1972. He is now a deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness, training and mobilization.
His report on Abu Ghraib blamed command and training failures for creating the atmosphere that led to the abuse of prisoners by soldiers. His report also cited Army interrogators who asked the soldiers to "set the conditions" for interrogations by mistreating inmates.
In testimony before a U.S. Senate committee, Taguba said his directive in conducting the highly sensitive investigation was to "follow our conscience and do what is morally right."
Taguba's father, Thomas, retired from the Army as a sergeant first class, and in 1999 was finally recognized for his service in World War II. In a ceremony attended by his son, he received the Bronze Star and Prisoner of War medals.
Other UH commencements
The University of Hawaii-Hilo and UH-West Oahu will also be holding commencement ceremonies in two weeks.
UH-West Oahu's ceremony is on Friday, Dec. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Leeward Community College Theatre. About 85 candidates will receive their degrees.
The commencement speaker has not yet been announced.
Local businessman Duane Kurisu will be the commencement speaker at UH-Hilo's graduation on Saturday, Dec. 17.
The ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m. at the new UH-Hilo gymnasium. About 256 candidates are eligible to receive their degrees.
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Commencement ceremonies for UH-Manoa start at 9 a.m. Sunday Dec. 18 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The ceremony can be viewed live online at the UH Web site. More than 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate in the ceremonies.
Graduates and their families and friends are urged to allow sufficient time to arrive before the 9 a.m. start of the program and to expect traffic congestion in the area.
Campus parking is free on graduation day. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis; no tickets will be issued. Doors to the arena will open at 8 a.m. and will close once the arena has reached capacity, due to fire regulations.
Those arriving after the doors have been closed will be directed to Les Murakami Stadium, where the ceremony will be broadcast via live feed.
No balloons are allowed inside the Stan Sheriff Center. Graduates, their families and well-wishers will exit the Stan Sheriff Center and meet on the field at Les Murakami Stadium for post-commencement celebrations.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
» Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba was a graduate of Leilehua High School and Idaho State University. An article on Page A5 Monday incorrectly said he graduated from Wahiawa High School and Iowa State University.
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