Thirty-two Palauans and FSMers join US Army

(Reported by Palau Horizon News Staff writer Villahermosa)

Koror, Palau (July 22, 2009) – Thirty-two young men and women from Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia enlisted in the US Army and were sworn in on Wednesday in Palau by Captain Michael Smiley, Operations Officer for the Honolulu Military Entrance Processing Station

Palau President Johnson Toribiong and Paramount Chief Reklai Raphael B. Ngirmang were special guest speakers at the ceremony. The US Army, represented by Command Sergeant Major Kenneth Crow of the Portland Recruiting Battalion Operations, also gave President Toribiong a plaque and certificate of appreciation. Former Vice President Elias Camsek Chin, a veteran himself, was also at the ceremony.

The recruits from Palau, Yap, Pohnpei and Kosrae are Tulop Hans Aulerio, Esmeralynn C. Baulis, Edenson Haruo, Bernard Klewei, Lafayette Lucky, Mindy Madraisau, Leevan Manuel, Jason Mongkeya, Meschol Ngirachitei, Ubi Oiterong, Iver K. Rechelluul, Jesse Robert, Ursela Salvador, Dayneleen Sebakum, Burton Tomei Solang, Oswald Ringang, Mairca Sungino, Elton E. Telmang, Dallas Ubedei, Aleina Uehara, Billy R. William, Charlotte Chugrad, Gillian Rugin, Flamar Junior, Miranda Pilyag, Jacklyn Famaw, Kelulau Ucherkemur, Luhda Jethmar, David Tewodrose, Florian Nena, Likiaksa Benjamin, Masayuki Alpen.

First Sergeant Yong Fox of the Guam Recruiting Detachment said some recruits will leave in August and others in October or January of 2010 for training. The new enlistees will be trained in different states within the U.S. mainland for approximately ten weeks.

The Office of Insular Affairs is proud to recognize the men and women of the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States who serve in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.