Republic of Korea Samoa Association

For the 2nd straight year in a row, ROKSA celebrated 2007 at Yongsan Lanes!  See the video clip as proof of music, fun and memories.

ROKSA gather's to bid a quick and final farewell to Easter Asi Bruce.

Standing from left to right (back row):  Tima Sua carrying Lincoln Amosa, Manaia Fruean, Punefuolemotu Aiumu, Tauapai Laupola, Talalelei Fautanu, Vaitogi Taetuli, Leafe Amosa carrying Lemanai Amosa.  Standing from left to right (front row):  Athenia "Peti" Laupola, Florence Amosa, Easter Asi Bruce.

For the 3rd straight year, ROKSA has once again brought another option for cupid to spread "the love" to all in the Yongsan Community during Valentines Day.  Just as successful in the past two years, the Ula Lole campaign raised approximately $450 all of which is applied towards ROKSA's major event, Asian-Pacific, scheduled for the month of May.

A big "faamalo" and "faafetai" to all that made this event a success.  

ROKSA member, Quincy Tiumalu's mother, Soonafai Faamao Tiumalu, passed away 3 Jan 2007.  On behalf of ROKSA, SSG Talalelei Fautanu happened to be in Samoa at the time and was able to give the association's condolences directly to the family in the form of a monetary gift donated by ROKSA members.

Soonafai was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and passed at the young age of 55.  She was a retired legislative accountant for the American Samoa government. She is survived by son Quincy; daughters Lizadell and Fiailoa Langford and Sophie Ah Siu; brothers Tulifau, Siaki and Samu; sisters Tofi Pauni, Violena Tupuola, Sieni Ladas, Fusi Paopao and Faleiva; and 14 grandchildren. (Source:  Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

Congratulations to Aja and Joe Nansen as they began their married life on 10 February 2007.  ROKSA is blessed to be a part of their wedding and welcomes the Nansen's as regular and active members in the Samoan community in Korea.

ROKSA members came out to show some "love" for CPT Faamao Umalitanielu at her Change of Command. 

Standing left to right:  121 General Hospital CSM Miguel Guante-Rojas, SSG Vaitogi Taetuli, SGT Rodney Roby, 18th MEDCOM CSM Richardo Alcantara, SSG Pe'a Polu.  Kneeling left to right:  CPT Faamao Umalitanielu, SGT Faasi'usi'uga Taumua, SSG Talalelei Fautanu

Congratulations to CPT Umalitanielu!

Posing again with the ROKSA banner.  Standing from left to right:  SSG Polu, SSG Taetuli, CPT Umalitanielu, SSG Fautanu & SGT Taumua.

Charter ROKSA member, Thomas Bruce's father, James Andrew Bruce passed away 11 March 2007 at the age of 77.  Born in Bardo, Kentucky in "coal miner country", James Andrew Bruce, worked for Chrylser Corporation for 36 years.  James Andrew Bruce is survived by his wife Shirley McCormick Bruce; sons Ronald Bruce, Bill Bruce, and Tom Bruce; daughter Kathleen Bruce; brother Chawg Bruce; sister Gloria Dean Ruffner; and 14 grandchildren.

ROKSA sent condolences to Tom Bruce and the Bruce family with a beautifully decorated white cross and red roses draped across the front. 

Recently ROKSA held their Hail & Farewell up in Area I, Camp Casey.  Area I, traditionally, is where the bulk of Samoan service members are stationed.  During this event, ROKSA was bidding farewell to SGT Fa'asiusiuga Taumua and SPC Tima Sua.  ROKSA also took this opportunity to welcome a few new faces and one returning face, Ropati So'oalo.  New to the Korean peninsula are SSG Pe'a Polu, Mr. Joseph Nansen (recently married 1LT Aja Tuiasosopo), and SGT Ray Topinio from the Philipines but is married to a Samoan gal, Lesa Afa Topino of Tafuna. 

ROKSA gather's to bid farewell to SGT Taumua.

ROKSA welcomes four new faces and one returning familiar face, CPL Ropati Sooalo: 

Posing left to right are SSG Pe'a Polu, Mr. Joseph "Joe" Nansen, CPL Ropati Sooalo, SGT Ray Topinio, and PVI Brian Kalapu.  

ROKSA bids farewell to SPC Tima Sua.

ROKSA, congratulates SSG Vaitogi Taetuli and SSG Manaia Fruean for becoming naturalized US citizen at the Overseas Military Naturalization Ceremony Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at the American Embassy Association Building, Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul Korea. The ceremony was a very moving experience, especially during the oath of allegiance and receiving of citizenship certificates. ROKSA was represented by SSG Flo Amosa, SSG Talalelei Fautanu, Mr. Joe Nansen, MAJ Laupola and his daughters.   According to MAJ Laupola, he wishes that SSG Vaitogi's wife, Leticia Casso Taetuli and the kids, as well as SSG Fruean's wife, Laurie Ma'amu Fruean and sons as well as their parents, Rev Sani & Mereane Taetuli and Mr & Mrs Tuaolo and Fiapa'ipa'i Fruean were present during this special ceremony.  ROKSA is proud to stand in for these two great American families and live its motto of "a home away from home" for all Samoan soldiers.

Proudly posing as new US citizens, SSG Taetuli and SSG Fruean.

Pictured here standing from left to right: Joe Nansen, Georgina Laupola, SSG Florence Amosa, SSG Vaitogi Taetuli, SSG Manaia Fruean, MAJ Tauapai Laupola, and SSG Talalelei Fautanu, Jr.  Kneeling left to right:  Athenia Laupola, Lindsey Laupola and Anna Theresa Laupola.

Specialist (SPC) Yorhena Maoina Loimata Panama has been selected for the All-Army Volleyball trials at West Point Military Academy, New York.  SPC Panama has received military temporary duty orders for this trip and has departed Korea for West POint Military Academy Saturday, 14 April 2007.  Rena, as she is known by her ROKSA family, is the proud daughter of Reverend Ekepati Mutu Panama of Utulei and the late Helena Onosa'i Mageo Panama of Pago Pago, AS.  She has played in the All-Army volleyball team for the last three years and was a gold medalist last year.

"ROKSA's part in the Camp Casey's Asian Pacific Celebration Event: Warrior Hukilau was a great success. ROKSA was represented well and living up to its goal of promoting the "faasamoa", in the way that our parents would have been very proud of.   From the roasting of 4-pigs early Saturday morning to opening the entertainment part of the "Warrior Hukilau Event with dazzling performances and colorful uniforms by the ROKSA's dance group and the anticipated crowd that came out to the Warriors Club to witness and support the ROKSA's Summer-Bash Luau; I am humbled and honored  together with all those ROKSA members who labored to share our proud Samoan Heritage with Area 1, Camp Casey's" Asian Pacific celebration." 

Tauapai Laupola, ROKSA President

On May 21, 2007, SPC  Auvele Punefuolemotu E. Lemoe Aiumu was re-enlisted in the United States Army for another 4 years.  The re-enlistment ceremony was conducted by MAJOR Laupola in front of SPC Aiumu’s unit, friends and his ROKSA family. 

SPC Aiumu is assigned to HHD, 41st SIG BN as a 31B (Military Police)/42A (Human Resource) .  His mother is Taua S. Aiumu of Saanapu, &  Safata, Samoa while his father, the late Lemoe Aiumu hails from the village of Pago Pago, American Samoa.

SPC Aiumu was born at LBJ Medical Center, Fagaalu, AS, on November 30, 1985. He is a 2003 graduate of Tafuna High School. In April 2004, he enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Ft Lewis, WA,  assigned to the 42d MP BDE.  It was during this tour that he was deployed to Iraq from October 2004-December 2005; and in January 2006, he PCS to Korea.  He is currently serving as ROKSA’s treasurer.

ROKSA Members, Front Row (L-R):  SFC Leafe Amosa, SSG Florence Amosa, SPC Punefuolemotu Aiumu, MAJ Tauapai Laupola, SSG Manaia Fruean.  Back Row (L-R): SSG Talalelei Fautanu, SSG Vaitogi Taetuli and CPL Poasa Masaniai, Jr (PJ).

At 1900 25May07, ROKSA gathered at ACE II Restaurant, Camp Casey to bid farewell to Leuceana Leauma (Lu) as she PCS to her new duty station at Ft Polk, LA. It was a bitter sweet event to send off for a supportive & faithful chartered member with flying colors. Thanks to Tala & Vaitogi for arranging everything, to Joe & Aja for driving up from CP Humphrey and to all ROKSA who came to say good-bye to Lu.

ROKSA sent her off with a ROKSA coin, certificate of appreciation, ROKSA T-shirt, a framed picture of the ROKSA 2007 Asian Pacific Dance Group with personal comments from members, a framed wood-burnt ROKSA logo and a photo album of her tour in Korea. Everybody was given a chance to comment on Lu’s tour in Korea and the common theme amongst everybody that evening was "Lu is very supportive of ROKSA activities and she is proud of her Samoan culture.” Lu thanked ROKSA for providing her a home away from home and always looking after her interest. ROKSA dropped her off at the Camp Casey’s bus terminal and sang “Good-bye my Feleni” as she boards the bus and roll-off for Incheon International Airport, Saturday, 0600 26May07.

Take care Lu and ROKSA will miss you dearly.

The weather was perfect for the farewell to ROKSA’s Iron Chef “SSG Vaitogi Sani Taetuli” Area 1 membership chairperson on Saturday,  June 2, 2007 at ACE ll, Camp Casey, ROK.  SSG Talalelei Fautanu set-up, coordinated and prepared all the Samoan food (faalifu fa’i, sapasui, salaki pakeka, sua kapuvae, kale moa, sua povi, falai moa ma fasi pua’a) for this event at ROKSA’s newly adopted hang-out, ACE ll, right outside the main gate and few steps from the infamous “ville”.

A lot of SSG Taetuli’s friends and his ROKSA family came to bid him farewell and wish him the very best as he departs for Ft Hood, TX.  SSG Fautanu blessed the food to kick-start this event before everybody partakes in this lavish buffet.  Everybody was given and opportunity to comment on SSG Taetuli’s contribution to ROKSA and the common theme amongst those who attended, SSG Taetuli’s trademark is “ROKSA’s Iron Chef” a title that carries a lot of “alofa” to ensure that ROKSA will always have enough food in any given event.

As a token of appreciation for SSG Taetuli’s faithful and dedicated support to ROKSA during his tour in Korea, the President and SSG Fautanu presented him with a ROKSA coin, certificate of appreciation, ROKSA’s framed wood-burnt logo and a 2007 ROKSA’s dance group picture.  A group and individual photo ops were taken during the event.  SSG Taetuli thanked ROKSA for providing him a “home away from home” and making him a part of this legacy.  To sum up his somber feelings that night, “Samoans in Korea have a very strong support group with the existence of ROKSA…I feel so special tonight because I did not receive a farewell like this when I was here in 2002-2003. 

The event at Ace ll lasted til 2300hrs and then the party moved to ROKSA’s dance establishment on the “ville”, VIP, where the house was rocked with Samoans’ famous hip-hop artists.  It was a very fun night.  Everybody came together one more time for a to’ana’i with SSG Taetuli Sunday morning.  He will be missed because he does the cooking and cleaning for all ROKSA events, according to Georgina Laupola. God speed.

AnnaTheresa Fuafanua Laupola, nicknamed "Tita", came to the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the latter part of 2005 with her sisters, Georgina, Athenia and Lindsey to join their father who was stationed in the ROK.  Tita is soft-spoken, somewhat shy, fun-loving and a sophisticated, beautiful young lady.  Tita fell in love with the Korean culture, the people and the food.  She will miss Korea but especially her favorite food, kimbap.  She has expressed an interest in traveling the world and even entertaining the idea of returning to Korea as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Tita will begin her new journey this fall at Chaminade University, Hawaii and will be attending on an ROTC Army scholarship.  She is the proud daughter of Tau and Lana.  Tita would like to thank her grandparents from Afono and Fagaitua for their love and support as well as her brothers and sisters: Si'ufaga, Pa'i, Vincent, TiAnna, Sam, Georgina, Athenia and Lindsey.  Tita would also like to thank her mom and dad and to tell them:  "I love you."

Tita would like to thank ROKSA; she will definitely miss everyone! 

Camp Casey was the place to be the evening of 30 June as ROKSA members and friends came together to bid farewell to MAJ Tauapai Laupola and his daughters, AnnaTheresa, Georgina, Athenia and Lindsey.  Although they were the guests of honor that evening, the spotlight was also shared with other departees:  Talalelei Fautanu, Leilani Pine and Peati Mene.  An evening to remember, all areas were represented well and even presented their gifts of love and appreciation for what Tauapai Laupola has done for the Samoan community on-peninsula.  ROKSA members and friends wish Tauapai and his daughters well as they depart for Ft. Bragg, North Carolina where they will reunite with CSM Tuileama and Anita Nua. 

Area II and only remaining "founding father" ROKSA member, Tom Bruce, presents gifts to Tauapai Laupola and daughters on behalf of the founding father members:  CSM Tuileama Nua, Ms. Anita Nua, CPT Leuila Alaimaleata, MAJ Ruse Wiley, SSG Samuelu Iakopo, Ms. Tumau Alefosio Iakopo, Ms. Jackie Taua Gibbons, and Ms. Easter Asi Bruce.

May our Heavenly Father, bless you and protect you as you prepare yourself for your next duty station, and next adventure in your life path.  Never forget that you have been an important part of ROKSA, in seeing it develop as much as it has thus far.  May you take your experiences and memories of ROKSA with you wherever you go - with the knowledge that you've been a part of an outstanding group of people.  It is most definitely "home away from home" group.  It is sad that Iakopo and I won't be there with ROKSA to bid you a fond farewell.   All the best and well wishes to you and your aiga.

Lots of alofa
Tumau & Iakopo Samuelu

From Area III, Joe Nansen presenting their departing gifts for

ROKSA President, Tauapai Laupola and daughters.  

On behalf of Area I, SSG Talalelei Fautanu presents

Tauapai Laupola with their parting gift.

Leafe and Flo Amosa present the Laupola girls with a jewelry box and 2 bibles.

Rita and Timoteo present their departing gift:  Traditional Korean Tea Set.

SSG Talalelei Fautanu, Jr is married to the beautiful and tough Jean Ali Fautanu.  They have five lovely daughters and one son:  Chelsea Audrey, Cheryl Aleluia, Charmaine Amene, Charlene Amia, Christine Aliitasi and son Christian Talalelei.  Tala, as he is called, has been ROKSA's right hand man this past year as many of the executive board members departed Korea to new duty assignments in the states.  Tala can be best remembered for being ROKSA's Master of Ceremonies (MC); his flare for keeping the audience's attention glued on the show as well as his suave ability to croon "old school" melodies is the reason he has become ROKSA's coolest MC.  In addition to being ROKSA's MC, Tala is also the Senior Military Advisor for ROKSA.  He has proven above and beyond the call of that position, his concern and love for Samoan soldiers as part of his job in patrolling the Area I "ville."

Tala will depart Korea at the end of July.  He will travel to American Samoa to pick up his family; the Fautanu family will head back to Ft. Sill Oklahoma where Tala is a deacon for the Samoan church he helped to establish prior to coming to Korea a year ago.

ROKSA crew on the ground was not going to let Tala leave Korea without his own farewell party.  Read below as Mr. Saofa'i Nansen and his lovely wife, 1st LT Aja Tuiasosopo-Nansen gives a bit by bit blow on ensuring ROKSA's coolest MC does not leave Korea without a true P-A-R-D-E-E.

On 21 July 2007, the weather was perfect for the farewell to ROKSA's all time Master of Ceremonies (MC), ROKSA's Military Senior Advisor, and also the "GO TO" man in Area 1.  The day started off with a BBQ, Waterpark, Cosmo Bowling and ended at "TOP HAT."  The menu for the BBQ was Pork Chops, Turkey Tails, Short Kalbi Ribs, Chicken, Potatoe Salad, etc.  SSG Fautanu's ROKSA family came together to bid him farewell and to wish him the very best in the future as he moves back to the states to reunite with his lovely wife and kids.  Everyone was given the opportunity to comment on SSG Talalelei Fautanu's contribution to ROKSA and the common theme amongst those who attended was his trademark as ROKSA's ALLTIME MC and also the right hand man in taking good care of all the Samoan soldiers in Area I.  SSG Fautanu thanked ROKSA and friends for the wonderful event and advised ROKSA members to stay strong, help each other out and to always provide a "home away from home" for our Samoan soldiers in Korea.

Later that evening, the final event was at Camp Humphrey's infamous "TOP HAT," where the house was rocked with Samoa's famous hip hop artists.  On Sunday afternoon, everyone who attended came together one more time for a To'ana'i with SSG Fautanu.  Tala will truly be missed because of his hospitality, hard-work, and love for ROKSA.  Tala, we all wish you a safe return back to your family.  May God speed! 

Tala loves to say, "I-T'-S  I-N  D-A  P-H-O-T-O"...with that said, take a glimpse at the video clip to see how Area III does business when farewelling a braddah!  That's how Area III rolls......

The spotlight is being shed on Brian Kalapu and his mother, Punipuao Lagai Nagalapadi along with family members.  A heartwarming story of mother and son is being shared with our Samoan audience beginning with the dedication of this section, 2007 Memories, followed by an article to hit the various medias.  Their story focuses on how vital a supportive role the Samoan community at every major military US installation can play in keeping and maintaining family ties with the service member. 

A special thanks to Punipuao for providing the photos in the following video clip.