User:Tanielu Unutoa

I served in the U.S.Army for 28 years. I also taught in elementary schools for 15 years. I miss the Army and my service in it. I wish I was young again and do it all over and do it better this time. Ever since I've been out no one appreciates the service I have done for my country and I feel alone and unloved. I feel I wasted all my life protecting this country for nothing. My oldest children followed in my footsteps and now one is disabled and my oldest daughter is dead from the war in Iraq. None of their sacrifices will ever be remembered because they were young, only 23 and 21. My graduating from the Sergeants Major Academy encouraged my children to be like their father and serve their country. I was the first American Samoan Soldier serving in the United States Army Reserve in American Samoa to graduate from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. My Instructors congratulated me for being the first our of the Reserve unit station in American Samoa. My children wanted me to get out and rest and said it was their time to serve. Now one is sick and one is dead, all because they wanted to follow in their fathers footsteps in serving our country. Maybe it's because were from the middle of no-ware. Thanks. Daniel.