PAGO PAGO, AS, US
U. S. Army
SSG, HQ AND HQ CO, 103RD EXPED SUSTAINMENT CMD, DES MOINES, IA
11/19/2010, BALAD, IRAQ
Staff Sergeant Loleni W. Gandy died November 19, 2010 in Balad, Iraq, in a non-combat, medical related incident. He was assigned to the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), Des Moines, Iowa.
Thirty-six year old Loleni Gandy was from American Samoa and has earned the title “Toa o Samoa,” hero of Samoa of Pago Pago, American Samoa. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Good Conduct Award (w/clasp), Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/”M” device and numeral “2”, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, Driver’s Badge, Mechanic’s Badge, and Expert Marksmanship Badge.
Loleni W. Gandy of Pago Pago, American Samoa, lived with his family in Wisconsin. He graduated in 1991 from Marist High School and was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tomah, Wisconsin. He entered the Active Army in 1993 and re-enlisted in the Reserves for 6 years on March 17, 2003. He previously served a tour in Iraq with the 411th Engineer Battalion from January 2004 to July 2005 and was assigned to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin as a Senior Mechanic from August 2005 through October 2009. He was assigned to the 103rd ESC and deployed to Iraq on June 6th, 2010.Loleni Gandy entered the military in 1993 and served on active duty for 9 years 4 months. His most recent reenlistment was March 17, 2003 for 6 years in the Army Reserve. He was first deployed to Iraq with the Army’s 411th Engineer Battalion as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom on Jan. 5, 2004 and returned from duty July 3, 2005. In August 2005 as the senior mechanic to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Brigade, 399th Regiment at Fort McCoy, Wis. and was transferred to the 103rd command in Des Moines in Oct. 2009 and deployed again on Jun. 6th 2010 to Joint Base Balad,
His unit was the primary logistical planners for Operation New Dawn, which is focused on the training, assistance and equipping of Iraqi Security Forces. He was an excellent soldier and his very likeable personality made him an immediate part of the 103d logistics family.
“Uso” in Samoan refers to brothers and sisters. SSG Gandy and his service of distinction and honor is part of both his Wisconsin and American Samoan brother and sisterhood.
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