2 NMI soldiers killed

By AGNES E. DONATO and MARCONI CALINDAS
Reporters

Two soldiers from Saipan were killed in Iraq when a bomb blew up while they were on patrol Monday night (Saipan time).

Derence Jack, 31, and Wilgene Lieto, 28, were both due to come home in less than four months. Jack was supposed to celebrate his 32nd birthday on Nov. 17.

Jack and Lieto, who were with the Echo Company, were U.S. Army Reserve members called to active duty in August 2004. After months of training, they left for a one-year tour of duty in Iraq in January 2005.

Jack was a Gualo Rai resident and worked as cash department manager at Bank of Guam. He was married to Melissa Jack. They had a 4-year-old daughter.

Lieto was a police officer from Tanapag. He was married to Tiara Lieto, with whom he had a 4-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.

Initial reports showed that the two soldiers were on patrol when an improvised explosive device blew up and hit their vehicle Monday morning in Iraq (evening on Saipan).

Citing information relayed to her by military officials, Melissa Jack said the explosion caused the soldiers’ car to overturn.

Jack and Lieto, presumably along with other soldiers aboard the vehicle, were immediately taken to the hospital. Jack subsequently died of internal bleeding and head trauma. Lieto expired after losing too much blood.

Military Veterans Affairs Office executive officer Ruth Coleman said her office received confirmation of the deaths from the U.S. Army yesterday morning.

It is not known yet when the bodies will arrive on Saipan. The soldiers’ remains will reportedly be shipped to Virginia via Germany, before finally being sent to Saipan.

It was not immediately clear if their death is included in CNN’s count as one of the 2,026 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. CNN reported that 92 American soldiers died in October, the highest number of American deaths in a month since January, when 107 Americans were killed in Iraq. November 2004 saw the highest number of U.S. deaths in a single month—137.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Melissa Jack said the military broke the sad news to her over the phone at around 8am yesterday.

She last heard from her husband around 1pm Monday, when he called to greet her a happy anniversary. They were wed exactly five years ago on Oct. 30, Sunday.

“He was the most perfect person to me. He was very kind—a loving father and a very good husband,” the wife said.

Jack last visited Saipan for vacation in August 2005 and spent a month with his family and friends in the island.

‘I KNEW IT’

Tiara Lieto learned about her husband’s death from Maj. Edward Camacho and other local Army officials who visited her home around 7am yesterday.

“They didn’t have to tell me what happened. I already knew. It’s the only time they came here,” Tiara Lieto said.

She said her husband was just starting at the Department of Public Safety when he was sent to Iraq. Although a little unsure about what he was getting into, Lieto readily accepted his deployment because he loved military work and because he believed that serving in Iraq was something he had to do.

The wife also said that she had no inkling that such ill fate would befall her husband after they spoke on the phone yesterday afternoon.

“He would normally sound tired when he called. But yesterday, he sounded happy. He was counting the days until he’s home again,” Tiara Lieto said. “He’s a very funny person. He liked to make people laugh.”

Lieto was last home in April 2005, when he visited Saipan for a two-week vacation.

CALL FOR PRAYERS

Gov. Juan N. Babauta expressed condolences to the families of the two soldiers yesterday.

“The entire Commonwealth grieves the loss of two of our brave soldiers from Echo Company. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these men, and the many lives they touched while they were here,” Babauta said. “In time of grief, we have always come together as a community to show support for the families who are suffering such a tragic loss. I call on all of us to do that now.”

Babauta ordered all the flags in the Commonwealth to be flown at half-staff for one week.

“Please remember all of our soldiers and their families in your prayers,” he said.

MVAO’s Coleman also called on the community yesterday to continue its prayers for the safety of CNMI soldiers who are still on deployment. “We are all grieving for the families of the soldiers,” she said.
There will be a rosary vigil for Jack at his Gualo Rai residence and for Lieto at Tanapag Church every night.

U.S. Army sergeant Yinjyh “Eddie” Lang Chen was the first CNMI casualty in Iraq. This brings to three the number of soldiers from the CNMI who have been killed in Iraq.