GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Six-year-old David Mauga, second from left, joined his mother, Seini, left, Rachel Manning, Elizabeth Misaalefua and Van Camp Popese in the pew yesterday during services at Kanana Fou Church in Waipahu. The service was held for American Samoan reservists who will be headed to Iraq.
Samoan reservists get
together to pray for safe
and speedy returnFamilies gather in Waipahu for
the traditional send-off for
Iraq-bound soldiers
More than 1,000 crowded into Waipahu's Kanana Fou Congregational Church yesterday to send off 40 Iraq-bound American Samoan reservists with prayers, song and praise.
"It's important that you remain focused," the Rev. Falelua Lafitaga told the soldiers -- members of the Army Reserve's 411th Engineer Battalion -- during the two-hour service.
"I want you to remember that your family and your friends and your entire Samoan community will be praying for you."
American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono also attended the service, which organizers called a traditional Samoan going-away get-together.
"Your mission is peace," said Tulafono, who addressed the congregation in Samoan and English, "but don't let the tranquility of peace trick you into complacency. ... You must always look after yourself."
Iokalani Tauala, of Aiea, stood outside the church doors yesterday with her camera at the ready, hoping to snap a photo of her younger brother, Christopher Fielding, in his military garb, once the service was complete.
Tauala said she is preparing for her brother's deployment with prayer and optimism. The service, she said as tears welled in her eyes, made for an easier farewell.
"It's scary. I just hope that things go well for him and that he comes home safe."
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Singing and clapping members of the Kanana Fou youth made their way up the aisle past American Samoan reservists yesterday during services at Kanana Fou Church in Waipahu. The service was held for American Samoan soldiers who will be heading to Iraq.
The 411th battalion, which also includes reservists from Hawaii and Alaska, will head to Iraq at the end of the month for a year-long deployment.
"I think we're kind of looking forward to it," said Mele Hunter, an American Samoan soldier whose family flew in to attend yesterday's service. "It was good to hear (the service) ... and an opportunity to say a prayer."
Spc. Darrell Brandt, whose four young boys are in American Samoa with their mother, said the gathering "was beautiful" and "rejuvenating."
"It gives you that extra strength to know that people are behind you," he said, before fishing a photo of his family from his wallet and showing it off with a proud beam.
A second service for the battalion's members is set for Wednesday at Schofield Barracks.
The next day, a formal farewell ceremony is scheduled at the barracks' Sills Field, according to Lt. Col. Howard Sugai, spokesman for the Army Reserve's 9th Regional Support Command.
The 390 members of the 411th were told in December that they would be part of this month's large-scale Iraqi troop rotation, and will likely be joining the 1st Cavalry Division to replace the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad.
American Samoan dignitaries, including the territory's delegate to Congress, addressed the standing-room-only crowd at yesterday's service.
The reservists sat together in the church's middle pews, flanked by family members and hundreds of well-wishers.
"Soldiers, I am proud of you," said Lafitaga, who heads the church and helped plan yesterday's event. "I commend you for your courage."
Suiaunoa Faamausili Jr., secretary of the Kanana Fou Church, has a 19-year-old nephew in the departing battalion.
"Everybody going into this zone, I think everybody's scared," he said as he arranged tables and tents for a post-service banquet.
But, he added, "They are ready for this deployment."
Patrick Tulafono, of American Samoa, attended the service with his wife and two young children.
Tulafono said that when his wife, a reservist, told him that she was headed to the Middle East, he "didn't believe it at first."
"I'm just trying to keep myself busy," he said as his 3-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son sat on his lap. "I keep my mind off of it and keep praying that it doesn't take as long as a year."
