Congressman Faleomavaega today offered his congratulations to Second Lieutenant Gibson Sale, Jr. on his recent graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point on May 22nd, 2010.  Sale was nominated to the USMA in 2005 by Congressman Faleomavaega.

“It gives me great pleasure to share the news of Second Lieutenant Sale’s remarkable accomplishment with our Samoan community,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.

“One of 1,002 cadets in the Class of 2010, Gibson Sale graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Automotive Sub-focus and was concurrently commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.  Along with intense academic study and military training, Gibson was also a starting center on West Point’s most winning team, the Army Rugby team, in which he played for four years.”

“Choosing the Engineers branch, Gibson will now serve an eight year active duty commitment, starting with a four year detail in Infantry.  His first post assignment is Fort Drum, New York and his future plans include earning a graduate degree in business during his military service.”

Mr.Gibson Sale is the son of SFC Gibson Sale Sr. (Ret., US Army) and Mrs. Virginia Sale of Nu’uuli.  A 2005 graduate and Salutatorian of Samoana High School, Gibson was a member of the National Honor Society three years in a row, and was conferred several awards including the Congressional Academic Scholar Award, the Floramma Stanislaus Award in Mathematics, and the Superior Cadet Award for J.R.O.T.C.”
 
Beyond his academic achievements in high school, Gibson also excelled as an athlete, playing both football and basketball for Samoana.  He also contributed regularly to the community as a Youth Leader at Word of Faith South Pacific Outreach Center, under the leadership of his pastors, Faai’u Faai’u and Traci Faai’u.

As a senior at Samoana, Gibson received numerous scholarship and admissions offers from other military academies and major universities but chose to attend West Point.  He was first accepted to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey before entering West Point in 2006.

In a recent statement to the Congressman, Gibson elaborated on his experience at West Point, stating that attending West Point has been “one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life.”  He added that the leadership lessons and educational and training system at West Point are “unparalleled.”

“West Point's challenges militarily, academically, and physically have given me experience, maturity, and character…Based on my experiences at West Point and my interactions with active duty personnel, I can say that I am very excited to be joining the United States Army.  I am very eager to put my leadership skills to the test in the Army and look forward to the experiences ahead of me.  The U.S. Army has some of the greatest individuals I have ever come across and I am extremely proud to be a part of such an elite organization,” Gibson Sale concluded.  

“I would like to extend my congratulations and deep appreciation to Second Lieutenant Gibson Sale for his extraordinary achievement and for his dedication to serve and defend our nation.  Graduating from West Point is no easy feat.  The life of a cadet is demanding, both intellectually and physically.  It requires considerable sacrifice and perseverance, and for that Gibson is to be commended,” Faleomavaega stated.

“As we all know, this was a significant year for cadets at West Point.  Just last December, President Obama delivered a speech to West Point cadets where he announced his decision to increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan by about 30,000.  Returning to West Point as this year’s commencement speaker, President Obama gave an encouraging message to the graduates, highlighting their reflection of West Point’s time-honored ideals, ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’”

“I am proud of Second Lieutenant Sale’s reflection of these ideals and I would like to thank him for being a fine example to our young Samoans around the world.  I also would like to commend and thank his parents, Retired SFC Gibson Sale, Sr. and Mrs. Virginia Sale, and family members who have played a vital support role during this tremendous undertaking.  Gibson and many other young Samoans in the military have joined a long tradition of Samoans in the armed services and their willingness to defend our country is sincerely appreciated.  I pray for his continued success and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” the Congressman concluded.