Staff Sgt. Faoa "AP" Apineru was a ten-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a retired Staff Sergeant and Communications Chief with Task Force Rhino. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served the Marines in World War II. Faoa was stationed at Camp Pendleton, 29 Palms, Guantanamo Bay, Okinawa, and Quantico. The Marine Corps family was very important to him. He often referred to his fellow soldiers as "My Marines" because their camaraderie reminded him of his close-knit Samoan family. They called him "AP" because they found his name hard to pronounce. In May 2005, SSG Apineru sustained a traumatic brain injury caused by a road-side bomb while patrolling the northern Iraq border, a wound that eventually took his life. The severity of the injury resulted in severe post-traumatic stress disorder, memory loss, nightmares, and emotional distress. He had to relearn how to perform basic functions, such as talking and driving. Yet through his difficult rehabilitation, he exhibited an amazing resilience and optimism. He was known in the VA hospital as "the Mayor," a hospitable and compassionate man who hosted barbecues for other residents and was a close brother to any vet going through a difficult time. His selflessness extended to the hospital staff, and he often created certificates of thanks to acknowledge their hard work. Faoa rebuilt connections with his Marine brothers and renewed relationships with his family in American Samoa. The karate black belt and former marathon runner participated in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. Faoa was born in American Samoa, when his parents were serving as ministers of the Methodist Church in Fagatogo. The family relocated to Samoa for service to the church and Faoa attended school there. He is the youngest of three children. He died at Palo Alto Veterans Hospital at age 31. Staff Sgt. Apineru was wounded on May 15, 2005. After his death on July 2, 2007, the initial medical examiner concluded that Apineru did not die from injuries sustained during his deployment, but a subsequent opinion by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology indicated that his death was a result of his injuries sustained in Iraq.

Marine Forces Reserve
Headquarters Company
23rd Marines
4th Marine Division