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Local soldier celebrates birthday away from home
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Posted on Sep 28 2008
Everyone may have been tired and exhausted after returning from a long day of field combat training, but everyone remembers a special day for one soldier.
Thousands of miles away from home last Sept. 18, Robert Lieto of the U.S. Army was surrounded with his island brothers he calls his family. One by one, everyone started walking toward Robert, singing the Happy Birthday song.
With the effort of Staff Sergeant John Aguon and Specialist Rudy Kaipat, they were able to be creative of what they can gather around the barracks to make a birthday cake out of cookies from the cafeteria, a pound cake from the military meal ready to eat, and M&M candies.
Smiling while holding his so-called birthday cake in a red plastic platter, Robert was speechless, but managed to say, “Thanks guys, I really appreciated this.”
Although Robert was a little shy while everyone was singing the birthday song for him, he said, “It was just like home away from home” recalling his family on Saipan.
He added, “the boys make me feel very happy and joyful today” while smiling and looking down at his cake.
Robert is reservist from Saipan and Guam, 100 battalion, 442nd infantry, E Company, 4th platoon. He is a machine gunner, who will be deploying to the Middle East within the next few months.[B][I] (SSG Fabian M. Indalecio)[/I][/B]
