Our Troops

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Bright leis of pink, yellow, green and blue draped the necks of service members attending the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration at Tommy B’s Community Center.

Soldiers and airmen replaced their uniform blouses for a more celebratory Hawaiian shirt to honor the occasion May 13. With island music and spicy scents, participants converged on a buffet of Asian and Pacific cuisine and cultural experiences.

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Soldiers of the 412th Theater Engineer Command kicked off commemoration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month by wearing Samoan lavalavas during their Friday morning physical fitness session May 3, 2013.
 
The Samoan lavalava is the principal garment for both sexes in Polynesia, especially in the Samoan Islands, notably (Western) Samoa, an independent country, and American Samoa, a U.S. territory located approximately 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii.
 

Diverse cultures celebrated during monthlong celebration
 
May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to mark the completion anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, also known as Golden Spike Day, and to note the significant contributions Chinese pioneers made to its construction.
 

Army Pfc. Faatali Siaea has graduated from Basic Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
 
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier received training in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, core values and traditions.  Additional training included development of basic combat skills and battlefield operations and tactics, and experiencing use of various weapons and weapons defenses available to the infantry crewman.