Fallen soldier Private Penaia Tuose of Korotari Village near Labasa received a funeral fit for a chief when his body was brought home from Lebanon. Traditional Fijian ceremonies and a full military honour was carried out during the funeral.
He was 27 years old. The Fiji Times reported on February 5, 1985, that many villagers broke down and cried while two buglers played the last post after the 12-gun salute.
It was understood that Pte Tuose was taken down by a hail of machine gun bullets while on night patrol with four other Fiji soldiers.
Six soldiers shouldered Pte Tuose’s flag-draped coffin from his mother’s home and carried it to the village church were the service was held.
The path to the church was laid with masi and villagers clad in mourning clothes sat on either side.
The Royal Fiji Military Forces band struck-up a slow march to the church and villagers watched the funeral procession in silent awe.
The soldier’s mother, Mereani Dimaivuna, 60, could hardly walk because of her grief and was led to the church by relatives.
Then Army commander Colonel Ratu Epeli Nailatikau directed the march to the church, about 150 meters from Mrs Dimaivuna’s home.
A cassette tape of his voice was played over and over again in the village green and his personal diary was brought over from Lebanon with his body.
Capt Sam Raduva escorted Pte Tuose’s body from Lebanon to Labasa. Villagers from all over Labasa brought their isevusevu to Suweni.
A large number of people from neighbouring villages were also present at the funeral and some personal friends came as far from Taveiuni.
Meanwhile, the United Nation’s secretary-general Perez de Cuellar also sent a condolence message expressing his regret at the death of Pte Tuose.
The message was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being sent to Pte Tuose’s family.
