Samoan War Hero Wins Purple Heart

Written by Media Release
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Photo: Sargeant First Class Senetenari Polu is on the far right. Congressman Faleomavaega announced recently that he was pleased and honored to have been asked by Sergeant First Class Senetenari “Sene” Polu and his wife Rosie Polu to present Sene the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge. On May 12, 2008, SFC Sene Polu was presented the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge by Faleomavaega on behalf of the United States Army as a result of the injuries he received while serving in Iraq. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. The Combat Action Badge or (CAB) provides special recognition to Soldiers who personally engage the enemy, or are engaged by the enemy during combat operations, and performing satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed rules of engagement. On April 2, 2008, Platoon Leader Sene Polu was injured along with his Platoon Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) and an Iraqi interpreter assigned to his unit when his patrol encountered an improvised explosive device or IED while conducting combat operations in the Diyala Province, Iraq. SFC Sene Polu is the son of Mr. Pe’a Polu and Mrs. Avalele Polu, of Faleasao, Manu’a. He is assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 12^th Field Artillery, which is part of the 4^th Brigade (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), 2^nd Infantry Division headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington. The 4^th SBCT deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and is operating in Diyala Province, Iraq. In presenting the military awards, Congressman Faleomavaega was assisted by U.S. Army Captain Phillip Radzikowski from SFC Polu’s unit in Fort Lewis, Washington. Also in attendance during the ceremony in Congressman Faleomavaega’s office were SFC Polu’s wife Rosie Polu and their two children – Charlie and Chastity, YN1 (AW/EXW) Alex A. Amosa who is on assignment at the Pentagon, Petti Matila who is the current American Samoa Intern in Senator Daniel Inouye’s office, Rosia Curry, and Faatalivale Te’o-Lewis from the local Samoan community in Washington, DC. “Words cannot describe my heartfelt emotions when I was pinning the medals – the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge – on Sergeant First Class Sene Polu,” Faleomavaega said. “I was truly honored to be part of this special ceremony.” “Sene is a remarkable individual and an outstanding soldier. He answered his country’s call to go fight a war where he did an incredible job in leading his troops in combat and providing safety to the people of Iraq. He is well deserving of these awards and I am most pleased to have been asked to play a small part in his awards ceremony.” “Although I have been to several of these ceremonies before, it was different in the case of Sene as I can remember how sad I felt seeing his injuries when Command Sergeant Major Iuni Savusa and I first visited him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center last month. I never thought this young man would be in the condition he is in now. Sene is a real trooper, a true Toa o Samoa.” “Based on what I saw when I first visited Sene with the seriousness of his injuries, it was unbelievable and almost surreal for me to see Sene walking on his own strength into my office. Sene has undergone about 15 surgeries over a very short period of time and he may still have more to go through. Truly, his amazing progress towards recovery is nothing short of a miracle.” “I congratulate Sergeant First Class Sene Polu for his bravery and thank him for his many years of selfless service to our country.” “I also congratulate Mrs. Rosie Polu for her courage and for remaining strong in support of her husband. Rosie and their two children, Charlie and Chastity, have been on Sene’s side assisting and taking great care of him ever since his injury.” “At this time, I ask everyone to please keep Sene in your prayers that he is able to fully recover from his injuries. I also ask that we continue to pray for all the other soldiers who have been injured, and for the safe return of those who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Faleomavaega concluded. Comments (4) Subscribe to this comment's feed Hero written by BigUSO, May 23, 2008 Thanks for your service. I salute all of you for your determination and hard work for protecting our freedom. For all my USOs and TUAFAFINEs in the Arm Force I give you my special salute and Ill continue praying for your safe return. Love you all and God bless is my prayer. My Dad written by chazity, June 08, 2008 This is my dad SFC.Sene Polu I am thankful to the Lord for healing my dad day by day. I am thankful that he is still alive!!!!! ii love yooh unko!!! written by kalepo mageo, August 24, 2008 you mean sooo much to all of us.....know we love you and stiill yet praiing unko....man, ii't was such a BLESSiiNG to see you last niight, all ii could do iis cry(not because ii was sad...but because that ur stiill aliive, tears of joy and happyness..)) and thank the father above for everthiing....ii love and thankyou unko!!! u are my HERO !!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY! written by Sister of Michael T. Fuga, November 05, 2008 We thank our Heavenly Father for your life. Thank you, SFC Senetenari Polu for your dedicated service to not only America, but to both Samoa's. We continue to live in peace because of you and all our wonderful soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Faamalo Rosie ma le fanau i la outou loto tetele. Our continued prayers go to your speedy recovery and to all the BRAVE Men and Women still out there.... GOD BLESS YOU, SENETENARI. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND UNSELFISH SERVICE. GOD BLESS YOU, ROSIE; THANK YOU FOR STANDING STRONG IN SUPPORT OF YOUR WONDERFUL HUSBAND. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILIES. WE ARE CONNECTED BY GOD'S 3-FOLD CORD THAT BINDS US AS ONE AS WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR BRAVE TROOPS, IN CONTINUED PRAYERS AND WELL WISHES. Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Polls

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Google Satellite Map of Eveni Carruthers

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

"Where the natives buy and sell"

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Latest Comments

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
all the way

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
samoa god blezz all of each one of you for playing for our country

Deadly Catch For Fisherman
The poor fisherman who minded his own business while trying to get home to his family is assaulted a...

Manu Samoa In Tough Pool For 2011 World Cup
Having the World cup in NZ is the closest we will get to having the world cup near Samoa. We need a ...

To Err Is Human! To Suffer From That Same Err Is A...
10 to 12 deaths first year of RHD----

Social Network

Join the Newsline Team on Bebo

www.bebo.com/newslineS

Become part of the Newsline Bebo Network

Get News via your Email

Subscribe to Samoa Live News Headlines by Email

Get the Latest News on your Blackberry or PDA

Subscribe in a reader

Sounds from Samoa

Listen to broadcasts from LiveSamoa.com
Courtesy of Plantation Feet, SBC(540am) and
Radio Polynesia(99.9 FM)

http://www.samoalive.com/sliveradio.asx

Live on Weekdays from 8am to 9am

Have your Say

We want your Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you would like to submit a letter for possible
publication in the print edition of the Newsline,
please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We want your News

Submit News from your Area
If you would like to submit News for possible
publication in both the online and print version
of Newsline please feel free to email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Become a News Blogger
Have a passion for writing? Interested in
writing articles for Newsline? Email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We are looking for Bloggers from
around the world to contribute to our site.