Honor for son is teary surprise for command sergeant major

Stars and Stripes ^ | Dec. 26, 2003 | Ward Sanderson

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Sunday, December 28, 2003

Honor for son is teary surprise for command sergeant major


By Ward Sanderson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, December 26, 2003

Ward Sanderson / S&S
Command Sgt. Major Ioakimo Falaniko of the 1st Armored Division Engineer Brigade, left, listens Tuesday as a section of the Freedom Rest soldier relaxation compound is named after his son. A soldier, center, and Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, assistant commander of the 1st Armored Division, look on. Falaniko's son, Jonathan, was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq on Oct. 27.

BAGHDAD, Iraq — At the memorial service, the command sergeant major did not cry.

On Tuesday, he did.

But it was not out of mourning. It was out of surprised gratitude.

“This is the first time these guys saw tears in my eyes,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ioakimo Falaniko of the 1st Armored Division Engineer Brigade. His brigade, unbeknownst to him, had named a newly renovated house on the military’s Freedom Rest recreation compound after his fallen son, Pvt. Jonathan Falaniko. The 20-year-old died Oct. 27 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. He was attached to his father’s brigade.

The brigade surprised the elder Falaniko on Tuesday with the afternoon unveiling. Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, assistant commander of the 1st Armored Division, was there. So was Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

“I’m happy,” Falaniko said. “Just for the division to make this in remembrance of my son — and the ultimate sacrifice the soldiers are making every day.”

Falaniko’s fellow soldiers and Iraqi contractors refurbished the place themselves. Now, the Falaniko Inn is bright and stuffed with Mideast furniture, pillows and rugs.

“This was an Iraqi Special Republican Guard officers’ club,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Slagter, personnel officer for the division. “The officer who ran the club lived in this house.”

Slagter seemed delighted with the irony: “They’ve converted an officers’ club into a soldier’s R-and-R place.”

After the ceremony, soldiers walked up to Falaniko and clasped his arm. Several reporters, too, stopped Falaniko. His eyes were red-ringed from emotion, but he didn’t turn the microphones or note pads away.

Falaniko said being a public face for the brigade is now part of his job. The rebuilding of Iraq will take time, he said. And in his opinion, it was better for him — and his late son — to serve in Iraq now than have future generations do so.

“I’m focused,” Falaniko said. “I understand what we are doing here. And I know he does, too.”

 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

See also: Overcoming grief, embracing duty ~ Stars and Stripes, 11/21/03

[SandRat]

Darn the dust blowing around!

How come there was no tissue alert?

[SuziQ]

How come there was no tissue alert?

Tell me about it, I'm sitting here iwth eyes and nose running! What a remarkable tribute to a fallen soldier by his friends and comrades in arms.

[SandRat]

RC is notorious for finding these stories, bless her.

Just don't ask her about me and the tissue alerts I put up going into and during Christmas.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

  Army Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko
Army Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko is 20 years of age and is from Pago Pago, American Samoa. He was Killed while on duty near the police station in downtown Baghdad when a vehicle containing an improvised explosive device detonated on October 27th, 2003. His Unit is A Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.   http://www.hendersonville-pd.org/wartribute4a.html

Jonathan I. Falaniko Private, United States Army
~ Arlington National Cemetary websight.

Commentary: Fallen Soldier provides lesson on selfless service

[RAY]

In the names of these we must prevail. What a son, what a father. Duty!

[McGavin999]

What a touching thing to do. They must have a great deal of respect for both father and son to do this.

[tet68]

Got to clean the monitor, all blurry.

MARINES, HAND SALUTE!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

My apologies, SandRat. Slow today.
Think Pvt. Jonathan Falaniko's father might appreciate this poem, written by a 13 year-old boy, to comfort his family: My First Christmas In Heaven
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BAGHDAD, Iraq — At the memorial service, the command sergeant major did not cry.

On Tuesday, he did.

But it was not out of mourning. It was out of surprised gratitude.

... His brigade, unbeknownst to him, had named a newly renovated house on the military’s Freedom Rest recreation compound after his fallen son, Pvt. Jonathan Falaniko. The 20-year-old died Oct. 27 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack. He was attached to his father’s brigade.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurry screen alert

    

[radu]

Thanks for the ping, AND for the alert. I grabbed the tissue box before reading.

What a wonderful thing those troops did to honor their fallen Brother. And maybe knowing how much they care will help his father carry on while dealing with his grief.

[Alamo-Girl]

God bless our heroes... Bump!

[blackie]

Honor for son is teary surprise for command sergeant major ~ Bump!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Here is another thank you.

Mohmamed says his profound most sincere thank you.

Note two meg file but well worth it.

*Mohammed says thank you*

http://www.rustfreetrucks.com/stuff1/Iraqilawyermohammedgohome.mp3

cut and paste

[windchime]

Bump!