Honoring SSG Loleni W Gandy

Loleni W Gandy of Pago Pago, American Samoa, lived with his family in Wisconsin.  He graduated in 1991 from Marist HS.

He 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 Jan 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.

“It was my honor to serve with SSG Gandy. He was a beloved soldier and friend." SFC A.K. Prier.

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.

He has earned the title "Toa o Samoa," hero of Samoa.

More than 300 Soldiers gathered to remember him at Balad Air Base, Iraq on November 22, 2010.  He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary.

He is survived by wife Faauta Faataualofa Maae, children Amadeus, Alexander(US Army), Tyler, and Lawrence, parents Larry Gandy (USAF-retired) and Uti