10/31/2026
American Hero
< SSG Wilgene T. Lieto >
22 Mar 1977 - 31 Oct 2005
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13
< America Never Forgets >
21 years ago today, this 28yr old Warrior from Saipan, Marianas Islands left this world to take a new post at the gates of heaven.
Thank you for your sacrifice brother. I am sorry that you left way too soon. We can never repay you and your family for the sacrifice you have made on our behalf. But, I will commit to telling your story so others can learn of the life behind the sacrifice.
Please take a moment to honor, remember and pray for this American Hero and his family. Take time to read about this Marine's life told by his family and friends.
Remember everyday is Memorial Day for the families and friends of our Fallen Heroes. Please keep them and our Warriors in your prayers.
Think of your Freedoms and Liberties that have been preserved by OUR Brothers and Sisters WHO GAVE ALL.
If you know the whereabouts of his family please send me a private message with contact info so we can create a Fallen Hero Bible for this American Hero and his family.
Honor, healing and remembrance to you and your family. Stand strong at the gates till we arrive brother.
Saepe Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas
GODSPEED
In honor and service,
- FHH
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28, of Saipan, Marianas Islands; assigned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, 29th Brigade Combat Team, Army Reserve, Barrigada, Guam; killed Oct. 31 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations in Balad, Iraq. Also killed was Spc. Derence W. Jack.
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BROTHER YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!!
GO FOR BROKE!
BATTALION MORTARS DET 1 HHC 100TH BN 442D INF REG"
Watanabe of Hilo, HI
"Thinking of you always, especially during this somber Memorial Day. We love you. Forever in our hearts. 053016"
Your nen of Talaabwogh, Saipan
"10-31-15
My precious Nen. I can still hear your distinct and comical laugh piercing through my ears. Though it's been 10 years since the good Lord chose to bring you home, the life you lived and the memories we've shared continues to resonate deep within my heart. Our precious Boy and Ling are an amazing reflection of how blessed we are. We love and miss you dearly. Always and forever in our hearts!"
Your Nen of Saipan
"05-25-15
Thinking of you always, especially this Memorial Day. How our precious angels have grown...helping me clean your resting place for today's special day. We love and miss you so!!!"
Your Nen of Talaabwogh
"Thinking of you, Wil. We will never forget. Our hearts still grieve and we miss you dearly. You've earned your beautiful wings up in Heaven. We love you always and forever. Until we meet again, Prim. Please hug and kiss Mom, Dad, Wilben and my Dad for us! XOXO"
Mem of Saipan, CNMI
"23rd of November, 2014-
It's been 9 years & 23 days without you, daddy. I'm still staying strong for you. I love & miss you always."
Your daughter, Calia. of Tanapag, Saipan
"Dearest Wilgene, you are forever loved and missed immensely. Our childhood memories lift my spirits whenever I think of you. Thank you for being our hero and our inspiration!!! I love you, brother!
Si Pumpkin~"
J. Kapileo of Arizona
"05-26-14
Thinking of you always, Nen! We love and miss you so much! Forever in our hearts!"
Your nen, Boboy, and Ling of Talaabwogh
"Happy Valentines, Nen! I miss you so much!!! The kids miss you so much!!! We love you!!! Forever in our hearts...."
Your Nen, 02-14-14
"Brother Wil,
A good man, best leader and will always remember you and Jeff. My prayers goes out to you, family and friends in Saipan and other places."
ReignMan of Vancouver, WA
"October 2012
It's been 7 years without you here at home and with us. Thinking of, missing, and loving you always! You are, and always will be, forever in our hearts, Nen!"
Your nen, Ti
"To the family of:Wilgene T. Lieto
I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015.
Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga""
"Always and forever in our hearts! I miss you! We all miss and love you!!!"
Your nen, Ti of Tanapag, Saipan
"All I can do, is wish, I was there next to you Brother! I miss you Wil! Til we meet again... Have are b**r cold and the grill ready when my time comes bro!"
Ed T. S. of Saipan
"I miss you so much daddy .Thank you for loving me.And helping me.Thank you for loving us."
Wilgene your son of Tanapag,Saipan
"Wil, my beloved Godbrother.. It's been 6 months since you passed. & I want to say I miss you so much! I'm taking care of your daughter, we have a blast together. Wil, you are SAIPAN'S HEROE & ecspecially, MY HEROE. I'm glad I have a Godbrother like you. You will always be in my heart no matter what. Half of my heart is in heaven with you & the family. Hope to see you soon Wil..
GO FOR BROKE!!
Miss you so much. Amalina of Tanapag, Saipan
"Hey brother, I have not stopped thinking about you or your family. I sit and think of you everytime I crack open a b**r, and put a chew in. You will always be in my heart along with your family."
SSG David Earls of Fort Hood, Texas
"I dedicated my facebook status today for a fallen Hero. Wilgene Tudela Lieto was assigned as mine. Thank you for your bravery. I prayed for your family at 3pm today in remembrance of your sacrifice. God Bless!!"
Stephanie Youngblood of Birmingham, AL
"Wil
I'll never forget you, man! You always had a smile on your face, no matter how bad things were in country. All your little side comments always got me laughing I would forget where we were. You are one of a kind, Sarge! I know you knew how much I respected and enjoyed your leadership. I will never forget you, brother. You are greatly missed!"
Dan of Saipan, CNMI
"Our prayers to the family of Staff Sergeant Wilgene Lieto. A hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice, he will never be forgotten! Our thoughts and prayers and may God bless you."
John and Kathy of Columbus, GA
"Wil! Miss you bro! I miss all the pranks you pulled, the jokes you told, and the person you are. You are a great man, brother, and you are truly missed. Thank you for your service. You will never be forgotten. GO FOR BROKE, BRO!"
Chris of Saipan
"Uncle Wilgene I still pray that you are in heaven and that the family back home is safe. I know what you have fought for and I thank you deeply for that. My dream was to join the marines and fight for saipan and my family, but now all that has changed. Knowing how it feels to grief over a loss I dont think I can go through with it.My love will remain here for you and my soul will always thank you deeply. REST IN PEACE!! I will always be thinking of you....GOD BLESS"
Britton Jace MAfnas Cruz of garapan, Saipan
"Dear brother,
I am very proud of you. You have made me a better man since you were around. Now that you were called to heaven, I understand that I will have to do what we talked about and that was to better my family as well. You will always be in our hearts and memories. We will always love you. And when it's my turn to go to war, I ask you to please be by my side as you always have. ADIOS CHE'LU"
Kojak and family of Saipan, MP
"Hagu Che'lu hu!!! Thank you for all the good fun we had. You are always in my heart, you were always there to cheer me up when I'm down, I mean just about everything. Wil, I know you are watching over your family and friends. Go for Broke Che'lu!!!!"
Debuguy of Las Vegas, Nv
"ha Bro,
Today is Memorial day.I was thinking about you and jack as I do every day since I got back. You and all the other guys of Eco. taught me so much about good things in life family, sticky rice, beetle nut. I miss all of you guys but you and jack the most. I feel as though I came out of Iraq a better man because you was and still are part of my life. I am on my way back down there for another tour. I am going to church today for you and jack. May you rest in peace Bro. GO FOR BROKE!!!!"
SGT David L. Randolph (Rock) of Graff. Gremany
"Wilgene,
I would like to say thank you to you and the other soldier who was also killed in that blast for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
Go For Broke!(442nd Inf. Motto)"
"Wilgene,
I would like to say thank you to you and the other soldier who was also killed in that blast for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
Go For Broke!(442nd Inf. Motto)"
"To the Lieto Family, I send my deepest feelings for your family. I served with him that year. He and I would heckle one another whenever we seen each other in the housing area there on Balad. I had gone by his room to mess with him and was told by his room-mate what had happened. I was very upset that I didn't get to spend more time with him before hand and truly missed him after the attack. I still think about him each and every day. I have just recently found this website as well as a website to order a KIA bracelet in honor of him. Although we didn't know one another very well I considered him a good friend. I have ordered the bracelet with his information on it and do wear it in honor of him and his memory. Being a former Marine now serving in the Army...I must say that the Marine Corps would have been proud of all that he done and stood for. Semper-Fi SSgt. Wilgene T. Lieto. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN..."
Stanley Sharp of Ft. Sill, OK
"Wil will always be in my heart and memory. I sit and think about the times that we would look for beetle nut, fing one and split it, and chew together. The jokes you would play on me and the fun we had at bliss, and hawaii. You were always there for me and we always had a laugh about something. Your chimahowlie brother will always remember you. To your family, Wil was a brave man that sacrificed alot for freedom of others and you all also have sacrificed alot also by him being over there. My prayers are with you all. I was honored to serve with him in Echo Company 100/442"
david earls of knoxville, tennessee
"To Wilgene's Family, I am so sorry for your loss, you are in our prayers. Wilgene, you are a true HERO. Thank you Wilgene for all you have done for us. God Bless you Wilgene and God Bless your family."
Mary Ghaney of Brooklyn, New York
"To the +LIETO+ family of Tanapag...
We lost 2 heroes at once..we were all suprised and we ached for days...my condolences to you all! I salute your son, brother, husband, cousin, uncle, nephew, and good friend as a good hero..he fought for our freedom and for the peace of those who needed help! A brave hero is someone that our family can depend on..and we just lost one~+WILGENE+~ you'll always remain in our hearts and forever be our hero!"
EDILYNN BENJAMIN of CAPITOL HILL, SAIPAN
"Ay Wil! Man, it's because of YOU that I became a better person. You treated me like a little brother.Those times you brought me to the basketball court to teach me how to play.You are my hero. You are SAIPAN'S HERO. I could just imagine you and Jeff being taken into Heaven.After you left us, there has been a void in my heart that cannot be patched up.When you left us, half of my heart was taken into Heaven. Thank you Wil."Hooah""
Si Mik of Saipan,CNMI
"Wilgene,
I missed those lunch hours we played basketball at the NMC gym. You and your cop friends made the games more competetive with your presence. I enjoyed the moments playing with you guys, and the " trash talk" we all shared on the basketball court. I must admit that I did most of the trash talking but it didn't work because your team still won. It was all fun and healthy. Hearing of your demise along with my brother Jeff's shocked me beyond anything I've experienced before. The day of your passing was my own personal 9-11. I will never forget the moment the news reached me, and how I reacted. My whole world turned upside down. I searched for answers only to remember the famous quote of yesterday "only the best die young". May your journey be guided by God's loving hands until the day we meet again on another basketball court in the promised land. This time the real Lebron will be there to show us how the game is really played. Till we meet again buddy."
Si " Lebron" of NMC - Saipan
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The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.�??
-Benjamin Disraeli
SSG Wilgene T. Lieto and CPL Derence W. Jack didn't seek to be heroes. Like the good soldiers that they were, going to Iraq had nothing to do with heroism and everything to do with following orders. Yet for the rest of us who choose to stay in the cocoon of safety, the act of placing one's life on the line so that others may live free IS at the very heart and essence of heroism. When one chooses to act rather than just watch, that is being heroic. When one seeks to meet danger in a far off place to ensure the safety of one's beloved family back home, that is being heroic. When one makes the ultimate sacrifice of giving up one's life for a bigger cause-such as democracy and freedom-that is being heroic.
And that is how the Saipan Tribune chooses to honor the memories of Wilgene and Derence-not some quaint footnote to American history, but as heroes who gave no thought to sacrificing their lives so that others may breath free, who bravely entered the U.S. military just so they could give a better life to their families, knowing full well that they will be sent to dangerous posts abroad. Wilgene and Derence are giants in a time when most men prefer to play at being little boys. And it is because of these reasons that they are the Saipan Tribune's Persons of the Year.
GRIM NEWS
The war in Iraq hit closer to home in November when the CNMI received grim news that two of its native sons-SSG Wilgene T. Lieto and CPL Derence W. Jack-were killed when an improvised explosive device went off under the Humvee they were on last Oct. 31.
More than 6,000 members of the CNMI community went to the airport and lined the streets leading to the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport to pay their respects to Lieto and Jack.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen said the death of Lieto and Jack underscored the great sacrifice the islands in the Pacific have made to maintain freedom and democracy in Iraq.
He said the rate of casualties from the region is many times the rate compared with the entire United States.
Cohen also said the deaths of the two Army Reservists from Echo Company also brought flashbacks on the death of Eddie Lang Chen, the first CNMI soldier who lost his life in Iraq.
Jack and Lieto's deaths also united a Commonwealth divided by the general election in 2005. The entire CNMI mourned as one, sans the political and bipartisan bickering when it came to honoring the two soldiers.
Jack, 31, and Lieto, 28, were both due to come home in less than three months before their deaths. Jack was supposed to celebrate his 32nd birthday last Nov. 17.
Both soldiers were called to active duty in August 2004. After months of training, they left for a one-year tour of duty in Iraq in January 2005.
Jack was a Gualo Rai resident and worked as cash department manager at Bank of Guam. He was married to Melissa Jack. They had a 4-year-old daughter. Lieto was a police officer from Tanapag. He was married to Tiara Lieto, with whom he had a 4-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
Lieto and Jack's deaths have been hardest for their widows, as they recall the happy memories they had with their husbands.
A tearful Melissa Jack said she last heard from her husband the afternoon of Oct. 31 when he called to greet her a happy anniversary. They were wed exactly five years ago on Oct. 30.
Tiara Lieto earlier said her husband loved military work and because he believed that serving in Iraq was something he had to do. She added that her husband was a very funny person. He liked to make people laugh. Lieto was last home in April 2005, when he visited Saipan for a two-week vacation.
Their husbands were given full military honors in November during the Veterans Day memorial ceremony at American Memorial Park. It was the saddest commemoration and recognition event for war veterans in the Commonwealth.
The Saipan Tribune believes that the CNMI will always be indebted to all soldiers who fight for liberty, peace, and freedom-the three key elements in the American way of life. These key elements will always take the country to greater heights of prosperity, power, strength and peace of mind but, as the cliché goes, such feat is never achieved without a price, that such realization will never reach the shores of the islands without something in return.
There will always be groups of people who want to take liberty, peace, and freedom away from the nation and it will always be our soldiers to whom we could turn to, to defend and keep the nation secure.
Jack and Lieto will remain the best examples to the entire CNMI community in the endless fight for peace and liberty. They will also be the greatest reminders to the islands that despite incongruity in principles and beliefs, the nation will still be undivided in terms of valuing peace and life no matter what happens, that in the CNMI, one may be green, yellow or blue, but in time of grief and calls for peace, the Commonwealth will always be united.
The entire CNMI is still calling for prayers from the community for the safety of CNMI soldiers who are still on active duty and who are currently deployed in the war zones in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
For Jack and Lieto, the CNMI will always remember you.
