May 20, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. --

Congressman Faleomavaega met today with Staff Sergeant Ted Philip Ta'ala who is on temporary duty assignment here in Washington, D.C. Sergeant Ta'ala is a member of the United States Army's EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) detail in the White House. This is the first time a Samoan is known to have worked in such a capacity in the nation's most guarded home. As part of the security support for the Secret Service, the Army's "Bomb Squad" is employed in rotation to handle sensitive situations involving suspicious packages, gifts and any other materials sent to the White House.

Sergeant Ta'ala is the son of Fili Fuimaono of Futiga, American Samoa and Norine Matthews of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born in American Samoa and graduated from Leone High School in 1989. The 26-year old entered the Armed Forces immediately after high school and has had special training in military schools to be fully qualified as a bomb disposal technician.

Ta'ala is presently stationed at Fort Irwin, California and has had several tours of duty before his most recent assignment in the White House. He said his interest in this field began while he was in infantry. His long range plans include working on EOD projects in the Pacific, in places like Palau, Truk, and the Guadalcanal where unexploded World War II ordnance is a safety hazard.