4th of July: Island soldiers speak of struggle amid revelry

While people across the country are lighting fireworks and families are gathering to take part in 4th of July revelry marking another year since America declared its independence from Great Britain, a different sentiment is felt when speaking to those fighting to protect our freedom.

For CNMI soldiers Thomas Joseph Santos and Decia Ann Apatang Augustave being away from their families has been the hardest part of joining the armed forces.

Augustave, a private first class and food service specialist, entered the military nearly one year ago and found her soulmate, Javon, eventually marrying him. As parent soldiers, Decia, who is stationed in Korea, and Javon, who is stationed in Virginia, told Saipan Tribune that they are “working hard to bring our family together and build as one.” She added, “It has been a struggle but we are working together to make it work.”

The Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr./Sr. High School alumna explained that she joined the military to pursue a life-long passion of service as well as support her own child.

In retrospect, she added, “Joining the military was one of the best decisions I have ever made”.

Even with the every day struggle, the 21-year-old Rota lass said that after contemplating for two years in high school, she could not think of a better way to serve the islands than having a career that defends the country and protects people’s freedom.

She recounts how rich in culture and respect growing up in the islands has made her.

“Having that made me realize that I could do anything and everything even without money. It shows how much you could survive in a place so small and come out to a fast pace life and still manage to keep that respect, which is all that matters. Growing up on Rota, has affected me in a great way,” she said.

Santos, a 29-year-old staff sergeant and engineer, told a similar story.

The Saipan native, currently stationed at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, entered the armed forces in September of 2004. Shortly after graduating from Marianas High School, he joined the service to fulfill his grandfather’s dream of seeing him in the military.

“I joined the service to try something different,” he said. “To see if I had what it took to be a U.S. Army soldier.”

“Military life has been good to us,” he added. “Being able to have my kids get a good education is what we like.”

Santos explained how his being away from home is something that everyone in his family struggled with.

After being deployed a total of four times, Santos said “not being able to see family was and still is hard.”

Santos lost his leg in an injury he suffered in Afghanistan, but continues to move forward saying that he has “no regrets staying in the military”.

Santos and Augustave are a part of a larger number of military families with similar narratives. According to the Department of Defense, there are 1.9 million military children, 765,000 of whom have active-duty parents. About 225,000 of the same figure have one parent who is currently deployed. The department also provided information stating that 73,000 service members are active-duty single parents, and 40,000 are active-duty dual military parents.

As a nation celebrates Independence Day under a sky illuminated by fireworks, we are reminded that when troops answer the call of duty, their families do too.