Congressman Faleomavaega is proud to announce that
two Samoan brothers, Staff Sergeant Legalo Teofilo of the Texas Army National
Guard and his younger brother Petty Officer First Class Leitu Teofilo,
were happily reunited recently on the USS Constellation off the coast of
San Diego. This was the news according to the Texas Army National
Guard.
“It must have been an emotional moment for the two brothers and
I am very happy for them,” Faleomavaega said. “I am also grateful
to Sergeant Brenda Benner and the Texas Army National Guard for contacting
my office to share the good news and to gather information to help develop
their story.”
Following is the full text of the article written on the occasion
by Sgt. 1st Class Brenda Benner under the direction of Aaron R. Reed, Deputy
Director of Public Affairs. Sgt. Benner is with the 100th Mobile
Public Affairs Detachment, Texas Army National Guard.
PICTURE PERFECT REUNION
By Sgt. 1st Class Brenda Benner
100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
One brother serves his country, his feet planted firmly on the ground,
while his younger brother rides the oceans and sees the world. Their paths
finally converge in the most unlikely of locations – on the aircraft carrier
USS Constellation, off the coast of San Diego.
Texas Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Legalo Teofilo, a full-time
UH-60L helicopter mechanic with Troop F, 124th Cavalry, enjoyed a miniature
family reunion of sorts when a training mission led him to his younger
brother’s floating duty station.
“I found out from my sister just a few days before I came out here
that the USS Constellation was my brother’s ship,” said Teofilo. “It was
a shock.” Younger by seven years, Petty Officer 1st class Leitu F.
Teofilo, a dental technician aboard the “Connie”, as she’s affectionately
called, also relied on his sister for the good news.
Their meeting materialized as Legalo accompanied UH-60L Black Hawk
pilots and crew members participating in the Joint Shipboard Helicopter
Integration Process program, also known as JSHIP. This innovative program
is designed to better integrate non-Navy helicopters and their crews aboard
Navy vessels.
The Teofilos, born and raised in the small village of Fatumafuti,
near Pago-Pago, American Samoa, have not seen one another for more than
four years. A chain of seven islands, American Samoa, a territory
of the U.S. since 1900, is located in the South Pacific, halfway between
Hawaii and New Zealand. It is the only U.S. territory south of the equator.
Legalo received an insider’s tour of the ship with an emphasis
on the dental areas. He said that this initial encounter with an aircraft
carrier has been an adventure for him and his fellow soldiers. “The
ship’s dental sections look incredible,” said Legalo. “I don’t know how
they can do all the procedures they do while staying on a ship.”
In turn, Leitu and his shipmates were treated to a guided tour of the Army’s
Black Hawk helicopter.
“I finally got to see his helicopters for the first time, and learn
how they function compared to Navy helicopters,” said Leitu. “It’s very
interesting.”
Legalo and Leitu followed a proud Samoan tradition when they joined
the military.
American Samoa, with a population of about 65,000, provides its fair
share of recruits to the military. “The people here are really supportive
of the military,” said Army civilian Saunoa Vaouli, a recruiting specialist
in American Samoa. “We’ve recruited about 100 Samoans per year over
the last 10 years for the active-duty Army, the reserves, and the National
Guard”.
The latest statistics from the Defense Manpower Data Center indicate
that nearly 700 military personnel of Samoan heritage currently serve within
the active duty military branches. Lietu is one of 40 active-duty sailors,
while Legalo joins the ranks of over 260 full-time soldiers.
Legalo started a family tradition also when he enlisted – his two youngest
brothers, twins, also joined the Army. One serves in Hawaii, while the
other is in Oregon. Four out of six Teofilo brothers have answered the
call to duty.
Legalo left Samoa for the military after graduating from high school
in the early 70s. He traveled to Panama, Korea, Virginia, and Texas on
duty assignments. Leitu waited until college graduation to follow
his brother’s lead. “Seeing him do well in the Army helped me realize
that the military wasn’t so bad after all,” said Leitu. “The Navy allows
me to see the world. Since I grew up in the South Pacific, I enjoy the
smell of the sea. I’ve had great duty stations in Sicily, Italy and Germany.”
Legalo said he believes it must be rare for brothers in two different
military branches to have duty aboard the same ship and that this opportunity
to meet is a blessing. Their military careers make it difficult to
get leave at the same time for family gatherings. “This visit has
been great for us,” said Legalo. “We hope to see each other one of these
years during our annual San Diego area family reunions. We’re going to
send a photo of both of us together to our mom who is back in Samoa. She
is very excited.”
Legalo and Leitu parted ways with repeated words of farewell in
their native Samoan language. “Tofa soifua,” they said. “Good-bye, see
you later.” And until these two brothers personally receive
handshakes, hugs, and kisses from their numerous relatives and friends,
those attending the reunions will finally see Legalo and Lietu together
again – if only in a proud mother’s precious photograph.
Photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Leitu F. Teofilo (left) and his
“big” brother, Legalo, a Staff Sergeant in the Texas Army National Guard,
briefly Reunited aboard the USS Constellation. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class
Brenda Benner, 100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
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