ROD THOMPSON / RTHOMPSON@STARBULLETIN.COM
A Big Island family grieves as the body of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Morgan "Bajo" Tulang was returned in a military transport plane. Tulang died of an apparent heart attack while stationed in Kuwait.
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Widow breaks down at return of sailor's body
Lt. Cmdr. Morgan "Bajo" Tulang died of an apparent heart attack while in Kuwait
HILO » The parents of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Morgan "Bajo" Tulang struggled to hold back tears, and his wife had to be carried off the tarmac after she collapsed following the return of his body to Hilo yesterday in a military transport plane.
Tulang, 36, of Hilo and Japan, died of an apparent heart attack March 2 while exercising in a military gymnasium in Kuwait. He had arrived in Kuwait in January to begin duties as an air transportation logistics officer in support of U.S. military activity in Iraq.
Yesterday was a day with little ceremony and much sorrow.
The family made no statement. The only formal words came from the Rev. Michael Scully, who said a prayer as Tulang's casket was placed in a hearse for transportation to a local mortuary.
Tulang had been married to Megumi Tulang since 2005. They have two children: Mia, 19 months, and Mitchell, 7 months.
Megumi Tulang and the children arrived from Japan at Hilo Airport just an hour before her husband's body was to arrive. With them were her parents, sister, brother and brother-in-law.
ROD THOMPSON / RTHOMPSON@STARBULLETIN.COM
Megumi Tulang, wife of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Morgan Tulang, was supported by Lt. Cmdr. Robert Falk and mother-in-law Julie yesterday as his casket was placed in a hearse at Hilo Airport. Beside them to the right stood state Sen. Lorraine Inouye.
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With about 30 friends and members of Tulang's family, including father Michael, a former county councilman, and mother Julie, former head of the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, they waited at the old terminal of the airport, now used for cargo.
With little activity there, the atmosphere was more relaxed than the strict security at the main terminal.
Besides the six Navy casket bearers and two liaison officers, family friend Robert Rodrigues, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, wore his dress uniform.
They gave a quiet but formal reminder of Tulang's military service as the friends and family waited in aloha attire, speaking in hushed voices.
At 2:34 p.m. a C-17* aircraft touched down and taxied to the cargo area. As it approached, two airport firetrucks sprayed an honorary arc of water over the plane.
The giant ramp at the rear of the C-17* opened, and an honor guard of six sailors slowly marched into the plane, picked up Tulang's casket and slowly marched back to the hearse.
Navy Lt. Cmdr Robert Falk supported Megumi Tulang as she increasingly appeared too weak to stand. Everyone was hushed as Scully prayed.
Then the hearse slowly drove away, and family and friends started to disperse. Megumi Tulang lost the strength to stay on her feet. She was carried to a family car.
A Mass and burial will be held Thursday.
CORRECTION
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
» The plane that returned the body of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Morgan Tulang to Hilo Friday was a C-17. A story on Page A3 on Saturday incorrectly identified the aircraft as a C-130.
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