Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | U.S. Army Col. Tom O’Steen, chief of staff for the Multinational Force and...... read more read more
EL GORAH, Egypt - On a morning when the sounds of gun and tank fire echoed outside the walls of the Multinational Force and Observer’s North Camp, a moment of solemn silence fell over Tavale Square, June 26, as members of the Fijian military stood guard over a memorial plaque etched in stone. Behind the memorial stone, Fijian soldiers tried to hold back tears as music played.
The somber event was part of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces' annual Infantry Day, an event which celebrates the heroic sacrifices of Cpl. Sefanaia Sukunaivalu. Sukunaivalu selflessly gave his life while trying to rescue members of his platoon from from a battle in the Solomons. Although he successfully rescued two men from his platoon, his attempt to rescue a third while under a hail of gun fire proved to be too much as he was shot and killed in battle.
For his actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to Commonwealth forces.
During the ceremony, more than 160 soldiers stationed in the Sinai Peninsula gathered to celebrate Sukunaivalu and other fallen comrades. Joining them to commemorate the occasion was U.S. Army Col. Tom O’Steen, chief of staff for the MFO, and Canadian Chief Warrant Officer Brad Biggar, force sergeant major.
“As a fellow infantryman, I feel honored to have been invited to take part in the Fijian Infantry Day remembrance,” O’Steen said. “Regardless of which country we come from, infantrymen share the same sense of camaraderie and pride.”
O’Steen and Biggar both prayed alongside their Fijian counterparts before laying a wreath at the local memorial site.
“Sharing this moment with other contingents was great,” Warrant Officer Amori Taleaua Matanatabu, executive officer for the Alpha Company, 2nd Fiji Infantry Regiment, said.
It has been nearly 70 years since Sukunaivalu’s heroic actions, but the pain of losing others to war is still fresh for some of the Fijian soldiers. Especially, for Matanatabu, who has survived deployments to Lebanon, Istanbul, Iraq and Kuwait.
“This is one of the most important activities for infantry to remember those fallen comrades, and I am very much excited to do that,” said Matanatabu. “I have lost a lot of friends,”
The day was filled with brief moments of subdued remembrance, but Matanatabu and his Fijian counterparts didn’t spend the entire day reminiscing. Instead, for the infantry soldiers, there were a number of activities planned throughout the day to include sporting activities, a traditional Kava ceremony and music by the 2FIR band.
While Infantry Day is just one day of the year set aside for the Fijian infantry units to honor and celebrate the lives of their fallen comrades, Matanatabu said the memories of their friends and fellow infantrymen are remembered and honored every day.
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2014 13:27 |
| Story ID: | 134700 |
| Location: | EL GORAH, EG |
| Web Views: | 525 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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