Echo Company soldiers treated to dinner

Tan Holdings and its officials hosted a special dinner and entertainment for returning Echo Company soldiers and their families at the Saipan Grand Hotel Sunday.

About 20 soldiers from the Echo Company, as well as their families, attended the event, which was held at the spacious lobby of the hotel.

Tan Holdings vice president Jerry Tan and other executives led the welcoming ceremony for the troops.

“We organized this special dinner in recognition of your dedication to the call of duty, your sacrifice, and your unselfish acts of service in Iraq. We recognize your great service and we are happy you are back home,” said Tan in his brief remarks.

During the night, Century Insurance president David Sablan announced that each soldier would get a one-night stay at Fiesta Resort and Spa and a brunch certificate at Saipan Grand Hotel.

The troops, led by first class Sgt. Michael Murphy, said they feel honored and are truly fully appreciative of the local community’s show of support.

He said the local community’s support and prayers meant a lot to the soldiers in the battlefield.

Will serve again

“We’re often asked these days, ‘Would you go back to Iraq?’ and we’d say, ‘Of course!’ It’s a call of duty, honor, and country. The Echo Company personifies this [slogan],” said Murphy.

He shared that their deployment to Iraq was also a cultural experience. When they arrived in Iraq, only a few have heard of Chamorro and Carolinian soldiers.

“When we left, everybody knows who are the Chamorros and Carolinians. They know about the CNMI,” he said.

Rep. Ray Yumul, who also served in Iraq, said the Echo Company “left Iraq with high marks.”

Returning reservists Thomas Aldan and Jesse Stole said that, if called again, they would willingly go back to Iraq.

“It’s service,” said Aldan.

“It’s dangerous but we’ve got to do it,” said Stole.

Both were assigned to a force protection unit in Balad, Iraq. They are still on break from work.

Aldan said he is going back to the Department of Corrections while Stole will be resuming his work at the Department of Public Safety.

The troops have been getting awards and recognition from various groups since they returned from Iraq last month.

The 143-member Echo Company, headed by CNMI Army Reserve commander Maj. Franklin R. Babauta, left the Commonwealth for training beginning August 2004.

They entered Iraq in February 2005.