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Tinian soldier dies while training
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Posted on Oct 13 2008
Sgt. Julian Manglona was on one of the final legs of his Army training Thursday before his scheduled deployment on a year-long tour of duty in Kuwait—a 6-mile run on the grounds of Fort Hood, Texas—when he suddenly collapsed.
Manglona, 39, later died at a nearby hospital.
As military officials investigate the cause of his death, Manglona’s friends and family on Saipan and Tinian are mourning his passing. On Monday, family members said they are now planning his funeral services but were not immediately available for comment.
Daily rosary will be held for Manglona at the San Vicente Church on Saipan after the 6pm Mass. On Tinian, a rosary will be held daily at his parents’ house, at 7pm. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
According to news reports, Manglona had served in a reserve unit assigned to the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was called to active duty in July.
In a letter, Command Sgt. Major Glenn Gomes said Manglona was a talented soldier and “one of our best and brightest leaders.”
“He always placed the mission first,” Gomes wrote. “He never accepted defeat. He never quit. And he would never leave a fallen comrade. …He will be sorely missed by his soldiers, his fellow NCOs, his company, and this entire command.”
On Saipan, Manglona had served his community as a local police officer. His tour in Kuwait would have been the second deployment to Middle East of his military career.
