2FIR COMMEMORATES CPL SUKANAIVALU

The 2^nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment commemorated the life of the late Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu during its Infantry Day dawn service celebration at the Multinational Forces and Observers South Camp in Sinai Egypt on Sunday 23^rd June, 2019. A wreath was laid by the Commanding Officer Lt Col Jone Verebasaga at the Fiji Contingent Headquarters memorial monument before the officers, men and women saluted as the last post was sounded to remember not only the heroic deeds of the late Corporal but also the fifteen Fijian soldiers that have died for the cause of peace under the MFO Banner.

The Fijian Contingent was overwhelmed by the presence of the new US South Batt 66 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel David Santos and his team who were part of the remembrance service. It was 75 years ago on 23^rd June, 1944 at Mawaraka, Bougainville in the Solomon Islands that Cpl Sukanaivalu of the 3^rd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment fighting alongside the Allied forces led by the Americans sacrificed his life by deliberately raising himself in front of enemy fire because he knew that it was the only way in which the remainder of his platoon could be induced to retire from a situation in which they would have been annihilated had they not withdrawn. Captivatingly, US Batt 66, which consist mostly of the Chamorro people from Guam were also part of that Pacific campaign in which Cpl Sukanaivalu was mortally wounded.

In addition, on Thursday 20^th June, the Fiji Contingent training team organized a mini infantry skills competition to mark 2FIR’s Infantry Day celebration. The competition conducted around South Camp consisted of message relay, combat life saver exercise, target indication, position findings, judging distance and weapons assembling which concluded with a shooting competition. Furthermore, Warrant Officer Class 1 Tevita Waqavakatoga was the lone contingent representative to a marathon organized by the Force Recreation and Athletes team on the same day. The troops were later treated to a traditional earth oven (lovo) feast.