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Our Troops - Battling Terrorism
  Nopuko and Richard are very proud of their sons, grandson, son-in-la and daughter-in-law who serve in our U.S. military.
 
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Richard and Nopuko are proud of their own children who have proudly served in the U.S. military forces. Our son, Jim, and our daughter-in-law, Tynia both served with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Our son, Shane is in the North Carolina National Guard. Our son-in-law, Roy Benavente, has served in the Air Force and Air Force reserves since 1982. Roy's son and our grandson, Christopher Benavente, is now serving in the Air Force as well.
The Federated States of Micronesia has well over 1,000 men and women in the U.S. military. Add these to those islanders from the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam and there is a very significant number of islanders from the western Pacific proudly serving the the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines.
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 Our son, Jim, atop his humvee in Iraq.
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 Our youngest son, Jim, and his family. Jim has been an airborne soldier since 1993.
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 Our son Jim, and Ray-Ray, his gunner, near Tikrit April 2004. More Iraq Images.
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  Our son, Shane, and his wife, Tynia. Tynia served in Iraq during and after the invasion as a combat medic.
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 The Barker boys, Jim and Shane.
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  Daughter, Sheila, with husband Roy. Their son, Cristopher (our grandson) is now in the Air Force as well.
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 The Barker boys and their proud mom.
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Army Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo
Pacific Daily News, May 28, 2007
As the island pauses today to honor the many servicemen and women who've given their lives to defend our freedom, island leaders also took time out to remember the latest local casualty of the Iraq War.
Army Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo, 27, died on May 24, in Buhriz, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came under attack from enemy forces using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Lewis, Wash., according to a Department of Defense release.
  Upon learning of the death of yet another soldier from the Micronesian region, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo issued the following statement:
"My heart goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Isaoshy Uruo, who received the terrible news that their son, Army Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo, was killed a few days ago in Iraq. Indeed, this news saddens all of us in Guam and especially in their home island of Chuuk. As tightly knit communities, we are bound together by so many family ties and friendships."
Bordallo expressed her condolences to Sgt. Uruo's parents and family in Agana Heights, his friends and relatives both here and in Chuuk. "Sgt. Uruo died in defense of the ideals of freedom and justice for all," Bordallo said. "He and the men from the Pacific and throughout our great country who lost their lives to this war on terrorism gave their lives for a most noble cause -- so that others might have the freedoms we enjoy."
Gov. Felix Camacho yesterday also expressed his condolences and and offered any assistance that he and Lt. Mike Cruz could provide to the soldier's family.
"The sacrifices Sgt. Uruo and so many of Guam and Micronesia's brave heroes made will always be remembered," Camacho said. "On Memorial Day, as we honor the courageous men and women of our country who served and died, we give our thoughts and prayers to the Uruo family and to the families of the heroes who fought for our right to be free."
Uruo, moved to Guam from Chuuk with his family in 1987. He lived in Agana Heights and graduated from George Washington High School several years ago.
"Guam has suffered a tremendous loss," said Maj. Gen. Donald Goldhorn, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard. "The island of Guam is paying a very heavy price for the global war on terrorism. My deepest sympathies are extended to the soldier's family."
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Army Staff Sgt. Steven G. Bayow
42, of Colonia Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. Bayow died in Bayji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. Died on February 4, 2005.
  Steven G. Bayow had served 16 years in the Army and was thinking about retiring to Micronesia, where he grew up.
"He was talking about it because he's very much an island boy," said Bayow's brother, Mark Mathow. "He has traveled abroad and experienced life ... but he still appreciates his home life, the island life."
Bayou, 42, died Feb. 4 in an explosion. He was from Colonia on the island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, and was stationed at Fort Stewart.
Mathow said Bayow was one of 14 siblings but the family was very tight knit.
"We have been looking forward to having him around the house when he comes back, so it was really an unexpected call and very hard on the family," he said. "He has a big family, but we are very close."
Bayow's sister, Elizabeth Mizelle, remembered how much her younger brother had been changed by joining the military.
"When he joined the military, they really trained him and really changed him," she said. "He really became respectful and independent. ... He's a good brother."
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FSM Mourns Death of Soldiers
Palikir, POHNPEI (Foreign Affairs/FSM Information Service): October 17, 2006 - "The FSM mourns the tragic loss of two of its brave citizens in the US Armed Forces. Private First Class Glendon H. Nery, of Ulithi, Yap State and Private First Class Henry Paul, of Pohnpei State joined the US Army because they believed in the principles of freedom and democracy. They will be remembered for their honorable actions, bravery and courage to bring the values that they believed in to the rest of the world.
The untimely death of PFC Nery and PFC Paul are losses for all the FSM, and our hearts and sincerest condolences go out to their families, loved ones and to all those who knew and loved them. As these two brave sons of the FSM are laid to rest, we are proud to remember them as two of our nation's fallen heroes."
PFC Glendon H. Nery, 23, was laid to rest in Ulithi, Yap on October 4, 2006. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and sustained serious bleeding before his untimely passing on September 23, 2006 in Fort Hood, Texas.
PFC Henry Paul, 24, was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in March 2006, where he died in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom, on September 26, 2006 of injuries after the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was riding in rolled over while maneuvering. He was laid to rest in Kolonia, Pohnpei on October 11, 2006.
According to the US Department of Defense and US Embassy in Kolonia, both deaths are under further investigation.
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Pres. George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited Hilario Bermanis II, an FSM native from Pohnpei, and other wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in conjunction with the Sept. 11th anniversary ceremonies that were held throughout the U.S.
Pres. Bush expressed his gratitude and thanks for the service and sacrifice that Bermanis has given for this country and the fine example of courage he portrays
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 FSM Embassy First Secretary Tanya Harris Joshua, Pres. George W. Bush, Hilario Bermanis, Jr., First Lady Laura Bush and Hilario Bermanis Sr.
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for all the other Micronesian citizens who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and who are willing to fight for freedom In addition to the words of encouragement he had to offer, the President presented Bermanis with a presidential coin. Bermanis, in return, gave the President and First Lady, lapel pins with the flags of the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and brochures of the Federated States of
Micronesia, with an invitation to one day visit him on his home island of Pohnpei.
His father, Hilario Bermanis, Sr. expressed his appreciation to the President for the good care that they have received from the Walter Reed doctors and personnel.
President Bush said he was proud and honored that Specialist Bermanis would be receiving U.S. citizenship in a special ceremony at Walter Reed Hospital on Sept. 17, 2003.
The ceremony was organized by the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Anthony Principi andhis staff.
In a later, separate ceremony presided over by Homeland Security Secretary Ridge, Hilario was awarded his U.S. citizenship. He was also featured on CNN's Lou Dobbs Show.
For another story about Hilario, see Tom Ridge and Eduardo Aguirre Visit Recent War Hero at Walter Reed
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