26 Jan 2006

New effort to arrange flight for American Samoan soldiers

2:48 pm on 26 January 2006

American Samoa's member of the US Congress, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, says he is working to get stranded soldiers home from Hawaii.

More than 90 American Samoa soldiers are in Honolulu after returning from service in the Iraq war.

Some of the army reservists have tried unsuccessfully to book their return home on commercial flights.

Faleomavaega says these soldiers need to get home as quickly as possible.

"Members of the families of these soldiers have contacted my office to express their concern as to what seems to be the problem here. I am in touch with Hawaii's major generals, General Marr and General Lee - we are consulting to try and provide a military flight for our boys."

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin says he will be visiting the stranded soldiers in Honolulu this weekend.