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Sergeant Major Tunu I. Tupuola

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Sergeant Major Tupuola entered the Marine Corps on 23 December 1973 and attended Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego. After Recruit Training, he was assigned for duty to Naval Weapons Station, Concord, California, where he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal on 2 January 1975.

He later transferred to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, where he served as a Squad Leader and a Platoon Sergeant, 3d Platoon, "A" company, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

In July 1977, he joined "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, in Camp Lejeune where he served as a Squad Leader, Guide, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Company Gunnery Sergeant for two years.

In June 1979 he was transferred to MCRD, San Diego for his first tour on the Drill Field. After graduation form DI School he was assigned to the 2d Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and Drill Master. While serving as Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant Tupuola was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery sergeant on 2 November 1981.

After Drill Instructor duty, Gunnery Sergeant Tupuola had a tour of duty with 1st Marine Brigade where he was assigned to the Battalion Landing Team, 3d Marines serving as Operations Chief for Weapons Company. Afterwards he served as Company Gunny for "B" Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3d Marines. He ended his tour with the 1st Marine Brigade as the Joint Reception Center’s Noncommissioned Officer in Charge.

In 1986 Gunnery Sergeant Tupuola was transferred to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division where he was serving as Platoon Leader and Company First Sergeant where he was promoted to First Sergeant. He also served as the Company 1st Sergeant for "A" Company, 1st Tank Battalion. He then transferred to MCRD, San Diego for a tour of duty as First Sergeant for "C" Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion.

In 1990 he was transferred to 1st Marine Division for duty and was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion where he deployed for Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Shield/Storm he served as Sergeant Major for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion. During Desert Storm he was with Task Force Papa Bear.

In August 1991, he was reassigned to Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines where he served as Headquarters and Service Company’s First Sergeant. His promotion to his present rank in 1993 led to his assignment to 3d Marine Air Wing Group 16 where he served as Squadron Sergeant Major for HMH 462. Sergeant Major Tupuola received orders to MCRD San Diego in April 1995 where he served as the Sergeant Major of 3d Recruit Training Battalion, until he was reassigned as Sergeant Major of Weapons Field Training Battalion.

In 1998 Sergeant Major Tupuola was assigned as the Marine Aircraft Group 12 Sergeant Major in Iwakuni, Japan. Sergeant Major Tupuola’s personal decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star, Good Conduct Medal with one Silver and two Bronze Stars. Sergeant Major Tupuola is married and has three children.