Army Spc. Richard D. Naputi

Died December 20, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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24, of Talofofo, Guam; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; killed Dec. 20 by an improvised explosive device near Ad Duluiyah, Iraq. Also killed was Army 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary.

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Family mourns soldier killed in Iraq

By Mark-Alexander Pieper
Pacific Daily News

Richard Aguon Naputi sat staring at the rice on his plate as family members moved about around him chatting, eating or helping to set up for the last night's rosary at his Talofofo home.

Lost in thought at the recent death of his son in Iraq, the father of three occasionally lifted his gaze from the cooling plate of food in front of him only to close his eyes and shake his head.

Naputi's oldest son, Army Private Richard Jr. DeGracia Naputi, on Wednesday became the 11th son of the Micronesia region to die in the current war in Iraq.

"We're just all still in shock," Richard Naputi Sr. said while wearing his son's Army shirt. "He's just a wonderful kid."

He explained that the family, while wanting to say something about his son, couldn't muster the words because the pain was too strong, the wound was too fresh.

He said the family didn't have any details yet about his son's death, only that he was in combat at the time.

According to a media release from Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo's office, military officials have not released official information on the soldier's death. "Richard understood that freedom was not free, and while his loss is painful for our entire island and our nation, he now joins that solemn fraternity of heroes who have put their country before themselves and made the greatest sacrifice," Bordallo said. "To these men and women, we owe a debt of gratitude that is simply unpayable."

The father explained how his son had only just been home for a week of rest and relaxation in September for the Talofofo fiesta, and how the 24-year-old son's military commitment would have been complete next month.

Army officials had wanted to give the soldier a higher rank, the father said, but he had declined the honor and a possible military career so that he could come back to Guam to start a family with his wife, Brianne Naputi.

The father yesterday talked about how his son planned to join the Guam National Guard, how he had picked up an application for his son to join the Guam Police Department and how proud he was that his son had chosen to serve his island after serving his country.

And then his wife, the fallen soldier's mother, Elaine Naputi, came out of the house, red-eyed and wearing her son's dog tags. She handed her husband a note and whispered into his ear that Brianne got a call and was told her husband died instantly, that he didn't suffer.

Richard Naputi Sr. cried and tried to hide the tears behind a pair of large sunglasses. Elaine Naputi then fought to hold back tears of her own as she looked at her husband.

Her body shook and she wore the tired look of someone who had spent the last day bleeding her heart through tears. When asked about her eldest, her lips moved but words couldn't come out.

But then she took a breath and finally said, "I just want to ask people for their prayers and support," before turning away because her eyes began to water.