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Army Staff Sgt. Ioasa F. Tavae Jr.
Died April 2, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
29, of Pago Pago, American Samoa; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; killed April 2 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire in Mosul, Iraq.
Fort Lewis-based soldier dies in Iraq
Associated Press
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — A soldier from American Samoa killed in Iraq over the weekend last visited his family in February as Hurricane Olaf lashed the U.S. territory, his father said.
Staff Sgt. Ioasa F. Tavae, 29, was killed Saturday when his unit was attacked by small-arms fire in Mosul, the Pentagon said Monday.
Tavae, who graduated from Manua High School, was assigned to the Army’s 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based at Fort Lewis, Wash.
His family was told of his death Saturday afternoon, said his father, Too Ioasa Tavae.
The elder Tavae described his son as a warm, caring person who liked to joke with his family and who didn’t show any animosity toward others, the Samoa News reported.
“My son was laid back and an easy going person,” he said.
Gov. Togiola Tulafono issued a statement Monday saying Tavae served his country with honor.
“The territory has lost an outstanding young man and a hero, and a family has lost a loved one who understood the importance of his mission and the desire to get the job done,” Tulafono said.
Tavae, the fourth of sixth children, is the fifth soldier from the territory killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion two years ago.
Sgt. Tina Safaira Time, 22, of Pago Pago, died Dec. 13 near Cedar, Iraq, when the supply truck she was driving during a dust storm collided with another military vehicle. Staff Sgt. Salamo J. Tuialuuluu, 23, of Pago Pago, was killed Dec. 4 during convoy operations in Mosul.
Army Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, 20, of Pago Pago, died Oct. 27, 2003. Army Spc. Farao K. Letufuga, 20, of Pago Pago, was killed Aug. 5, 2003.