Defense Under Secretary pays tribute to Samoans' military contributions
June 01, 2007

By Aumua Amata
Special for Samoa News

Under Secretary of Defense Dr. David Chu paid tribute yesterday to the contributions of Samoans in the U.S. military adding that the territory has suffered the highest of Iraqi war casualties per capita than any other American state or territory.

During his keynote address made at the Federal Asian Pacific American Samoa annual leadership conference this week in Washington D.C., Chu highlighted the many military contributions of Samoans over the years.

"To date, seven residents of American Samoa have been killed in Iraq as well as five Americans of Samoan ancestry residing in the United States," said Chu. "It is fitting irony of our history that many from American Samoa serve in Companies Bravo and Charlie of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regiment. It deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006 with over two hundred American Samoan soldiers."

After explaining American Samoa's political status, history and where it is located, Chu said that while residents of American Samoa do not pay United States income taxes or vote in presidential elections, they may serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"There are more Samoans living outside American Samoa (128,183) than living in it," said Chu. "In 1940, the Marine Corps was authorized to raise a battalion of Samoans to be incorporated into the Marine Corps Reserve as the 1st Samoan Battalion. When the unit was disbanded in 1944, it had nine Marine Corps officers, thirty-two American Marines and 494 Samoan Marines. American Samoans also individually served in off-island military units on a non-segregated basis."

Chu said American Samoans served in the Vietnam War, one of them Sgt. 1st Class Konelio Pele. He said on May 29, 1966, Pele was serving as a platoon sergeant in Company A, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. His unit participated in a helicopter assault on a Viet Cong unit in Pleiku Province.

"After securing the landing zone, SFC Pele's unit moved to assist other elements of his company that had become pinned down by enemy fire. During the ensuing action he single-handedly charged a Viet Cong machine gun, killing its crew," said Chu. "Using the machine gun, he covered the withdrawal of his platoon. Back at the landing zone, SFC Pele realized that a wounded member had been left behind. Moving through an open area under enemy fire, he found the wounded soldier and carried him back to the landing zone to be evacuated."

The defense under secretary said that for his actions, Pele was awarded the Silver Star for valor. For his participation in other actions, he received a Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Combat Infantry Badge. In July 2006, he said the new U.S. Army Reserve Center in American Samoa was named in his honor."

"Not surprisingly, American Samoans sought more senior leadership positions over time. Leafina O. Yahn became the first Samoan to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1989. She is still on active duty in the Army, serving as a LTC and stationed at the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, where she is Director of the Command and Staff Department," he said. "In 2002, Nina Salazar became the first American Samoan to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. On May 5, 2006, Iuniasolua T. Savusa, an American Samoan, became the Command Sergeant Major (CSM), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. Savusa first enlisted in the Army on June 17, 1975. He was trained as a basic combat infantryman and sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. Over the years, he held positions of increasing responsibility."

Chu said that after graduation from the U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy in 1995, Savusa assumed duties as an Operations CSM in Korea and then CSM of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division in 1997.

In this capacity, he said Savusa became the highest ranked enlisted Samoan in the U.S. Army.

Chu also mentioned that there's virtually no anti-war movement in American Samoa. He also referred to Sgt. Tina Time, who was killed in Iraq in December 2004 and talked about her teenage brother Emosi, a member of the JROTC who has been unwavering in his decision to follow his four siblings into the military.

Emosi graduated from Leone High School on Wednesday. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Wentworth Military Academy.

According to Chu, Emosi said, "Not everyone can understand why someone like me would still want to enlist. She (Tina) would."

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