Samoans and the Military - Why We Connect
Special from
Iraq
by Easter Bruce
Talofa from Baghdad,
Iraq or as they say in these parts of the world, "Marhaban!"
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation
to the Samoa News staff and their management for this opportunity
to report from this side of the world.
Although the
implications of the title (Stories from the War Zone) might lead
you to believe you'll be reading reports from a journalist embedded
with an Infantry Brigade Combat Team (BCT) witnessing and recording
operational and tactical challenges of the BCT as they pursue,
counter and capture terrorists and high value targets, that's
not what this column is about.
However much
I would enjoy bringing this type of reporting to Samoa News readers,
future issues will be focusing on a topic I find equally as valuable
and exciting - similarities and differences between the Samoan
culture and the Iraqi culture, as I see it revealed around me.
Within each issue, I will showcase a Toa o Samoa serving in Iraq,
Afghanistan or Kuwait.
Since to most
of Samoa News' readers, I am probably a new face, I will briefly
share my own connection to the military and why I have an affectionate
passion for Samoans in uniform.
It began with
my father. Although I was born in American Samoa, I left at a
young age with my mother and my younger sister to join my father
in Presidio, California as he was preparing to deploy to Vietnam.
My father served 2 back-to-back tours in Vietnam, surviving his
second tour with a gunshot wound leaving a hideous scar that
spans one side of his body underneath his rib cage extending
diagonally across his body down near the top of his hip bone.
I am very proud of my father's service in Vietnam.
My military connection
continued with my husband, CSM (Ret) Thomas M. Bruce. I have
admired and appreciated my husband's philosophy on his holistic
approach to taking care of soldiers. In addition to his belief
in sharpening soldier skills, my husband encouraged pursuit of
higher learning and training to promote advancement opportunities
and he encouraged financial management sessions to educate the
soldier on financial matters.
Retiring after
26 years of service in the U.S. Army, my husband continues to
happily serve soldiers as the Director of Marketing for Korea
in the areas of Morale, Welfare and Recreation. We have two children:
Jiovanna, a daughter, will graduate from Central Missouri State
University this May and a son, Dylan, homesteading it with dad
for a while.
Our circle of
CSM colleagues included a fellow classmate of the 1996 Sergeants
Major Academy, CSM Iuniasolua and Mareta Savusa; a fellow Combat
Engineer, CSM Ioakimo and Maliana Falaniko; and finally CSM Tuileama
and Anita Nua, the first Samoan my husband met when CSM Nua was
just a young fiery junior enlisted soldier. I make mention of
our fellow colleagues to validate a true statement as proven
by their actions time and time again: the military culture and
the Samoan culture draw distinctive similarities.
A solid family
support system promotes healthy and effective soldiers. In fact,
I have heard CSM Savusa comment on many occasions that the family
plays a vital role in support of the soldier. The military goes
through great lengths to take care of the soldier's family and
their needs but on a microcosmic level, Samoans have keenly demonstrated
the same innate actions as they seek out Samoan service members
stationed in the local area in order to take care of them and
their needs.
In discussions
late last year with CSM Falaniko and Maliana, they echo the same
sentiments as evidenced by their active involvement with taking
care of Samoan soldiers stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Likewise CSM Nua and Anita team up as yet another dynamic duo
serving Samoan soldiers as they did in Korea under the ROKSA
banner and continue to do so at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. In
summary, Samoans make excellent soldiers because of the natural
instinctive ability to take care of family which inherently originates
from our upbringing in the Samoan culture.
It is from my
husband's philosophy of taking care of soldiers coupled with
my recent "awakening" to my Samoan culture that has
generated an unexplained, enthusiastic energy to serve our Samoan
service members. I look forward to sharing "Stories from
the War Zone." The first Toa o Samoa highlight will be featured
in next week's issue.
Although I come
from an Army background it is not to take away from our sister
services, the Navy, Marines and the Air Force I want to
hear from you as well. Please feel free to send Toa o Samoa nominations
or questions to the following email: sinaoalii.easter@gmail.com.
To my fellow
Samoan service members, thank you for what you do in the name
of promise, peace and freedom.
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all rights.
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