A Lament in the Time of War
O how sad, how terribly sad this night is
At Pago Pago International Airport
Home of teary eyes
On stoic silences
Broken by the sound of police sirens
Military boots stomping
A trail of tears.
Sia Figiel, award-winning Samoan novelist and poet
Bravery is not confined to battle. Tonight’s diary celebrates the life of a Marine whose extraordinary courage ranged from combat and an IED explosion in Iraq to military hospitals and Veterans Administration facilities. In spite of devastating wounds and severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), his determination, resilience and efforts to help others are an inspiration to us all. Please join me over the fold and stand for this brave soul who risked everything to stand for us.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Faoa L. Apineru, 31, of Yorba Linda, Calif., died July 2, 2007, from wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve.
Staff Sgt. Apineru was wounded on May 15, 2005. After his death on July 2, 2007, the initial medical examiner concluded that Apineru did not die from injuries sustained during his deployment, but a subsequent opinion by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology indicated that his death was a result of his injuries sustained in Iraq.
Faoa "AP" Apineru grew up in American Samoa, the youngest of three children. When adolescence brought the inevitable youthful exuberance, his father suggested a stint in the military. Only after he enlisted in the Marine Corps, in 1996, did Faoa discover that his grandfather had served the Marines in World War II.
A dedicated Marine, AP, the nickname his friends gave him, served as his unit’s communications chief. Being a Marine was not just AP’s career, it was his life. According to his brother, Selemaea Apineru:
"He doesn't call the Marines friends, he calls the Marines family."
SOURCE
But during his second tour in Iraq, AP’s career ended during an attack that almost claimed his life, as well. While driving a Humvee on routine patrol in Anbar province, he was hit by a piece of shrapnel from an IED. The shrapnel pierced his face, broke his jaw and knocked him unconscious. After eight days in a coma, AP regained consciousness. But his world was forever changed.
When he finally came to, he had no idea where he was. He was alone in a room. His hands were tied down.
A nurse came in and saw he was conscious. She called others into his room and when someone talked to him, he recognized an American accent. He spotted a man wearing the chevrons of a Marine gunnery sergeant. Finally, something he recognized. He relaxed. He didn't know it at the time, but he was at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md.
His mother and sister were there, too.
"Who the hell are those people?" he asked a medic.
"Dude, that's your mom," the man replied.
"What's a mom?" AP asked.
SOURCE
Even though he was alive and awake, AP’s battles were far from over. He had to learn how eat, walk, talk, write and drive all over again. Along with the rehabilitation, he underwent many surgeries to repair the damage to his face and brain.
Then there was the severe post-traumatic stress disorder AP was experiencing. In particular, he was troubled by recurring nightmares of the explosion, nightmares that felt so real he could not tell if he was asleep or awake. At times, AP was so distressed by what these experiences that he tried to run away from the hospital, fearing he might hurt one of the nurses.
In spite of the challenges, AP made outstanding progress during his rehabilitation.
He was known in the VA hospital as "the Mayor," a hospitable and compassionate man who hosted barbecues for other residents and was a close brother to any vet going through a difficult time. His selflessness extended to the hospital staff, and he often created certificates of thanks to acknowledge their hard work.
SOURCE
In 2006, AP had recovered enough to move into a small townhouse on the grounds of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System Hospital in California. Although he still needed medical care, he was able to enjoy some independence.
Apineru ... is living on his own and loving it. He can cook for himself, go to a movie, hang out with friends, have a good time.
SOURCE
In 2007, he took part in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. With an athletic background that included marathon running and a black belt in karate, AP ventured into new territory with the clinic’s snowboarding trip to Colorado. As he told the 21st National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic SkiGram:
"Events like this boost morale and give us an idea that there truly are people out there who care for us."
But on July 2, 2007, AP died in his sleep, at age 31. At first, the cause of death was declared to be unrelated to the injuries he’d suffered in Iraq. Just a few days ago, however, the official cause of death was revised to war related injuries.
AP was buried in Utah, with family members from all over the world honoring him in traditional Samoan fashion. His mother, Tiute, spoke to a reporter for the Deseret News about her son’s passing:
"I feel pain and hurt," Tiute said with Selemaea (AP’s older brother) translating. "I feel suffering as a mother."
With her next breath, however, Apineru's mother said she is happy because her son is finally at peace.
Elsewhere, his fellow Marines remembered him as a caring, generous person who always thought of others first:
Paul Johnson, director of the outpatient brain injury program at the hospital and case manager for Apineru, said ... that Apineru reached out to others while he recovered.
"The things that impressed me about him was that he was very caring and he was very concerned about the Marines that he left over in Iraq," Johnson said. "He sent them care packages just to try and keep up their spirits ... He was very worried about them."
Johnson said Apineru was especially happy when his family visited him.
"I know that AP ... had a heart bigger than he was," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Judkins, Marine Corps Military Liaison for the hospital who worked with and became friends with Apineru. "Most of the time he was taking care of me," Judkins said.
SOURCE
For information on assisting wounded Marines, visit the non-profit Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund (IMSFF). Established in May, 2004, IMSFF provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions to OIF/OEF Marines, Sailors, support personnel and their families when service members have been injured in combat, training, or are faced with life threatening illnesses.
To date, 4,127 members of the United State military have lost their lives in Iraqand 561 have lost their lives in Afghanistan. /
Supporting the Troops : A great way to provide support to our service people is by putting together a care package for a unit in Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s a wonderful way to know you are sending our troops things they really need -- necessities like socks, underwear, soup packets, feminine hygiene products, paper and pens, school supplies, and treats and trinkets they can pass out to the Iraqi and Afghan children.
There are a few ways to do this. You can go through troopcarepackage.com or anysoldier.com. If you go to the anysoldier site click on WhereToSend for a searchable database. For example if you search "By Latest Email" you’ll see the troops who most recently have submitted a request for specific items. You then request their mailing address.
Operation Helmet is another great organization whose mission is to provide helmet upgrades. Fisher House is another worthy cause, and donating money is not the only option. You can also donate frequent flyer miles to hospitalized veterans or their families at Fisher House’s Hero Miles program. Operation Ensuring Christmas is another worthy cause that organizes theme park vacations for the children of our fallen troops. Finally, if you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here.
And don’t forget them when they get home! Read welcomebackveterans.org to learn what you can do.
(Many thanks to Kossack timroff for the beautiful logo.)
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, mediaprof, pager and me, moneysmith. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them.
If you would like to become part of the IGTNT team, even if you can only write a diary once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, or noweasels.
As you read this diary, please remember that it is intended as a tribute to the fallen, not as a political forum. Whatever your feelings about the war and occupation, please let your comments demonstrate respect and compassion for these sacrifices. We also ask that comments be considerate of the feelings of families and friends, as well as the many members of our community who have served in the military, or who have loved ones currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.