CSM (Ret.) Ioakimo "Niko" Falaniko

Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Ioakimo Falaniko hails from the island of Samoa and entered the Army on 29 December 1976 and retired in December 2008. He received One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a combat engineer. His stateside assignments include: Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Three tours at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Lewis, Washington. His overseas tours include: Hanau, West Berlin, Giessen, Germany; Camp Indian and Camp Howze, Korea and recently serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq from 2003 to 2004. CSM Falaniko served in all key leadership positions in the field of combat engineers starting from Team Leader up to Command Sergeant Major. He was Command Sergeant Major for the 14th Engineer Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington; a former Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Armored Division, Engineer Brigade at Giessen, Germany; and a former Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was the Senior Instructor for the Sapper Leader Course. Since retiring from military service, he was the Training Supervisor for the IED Division of Counter Explosive Hazards Center on Fort Leonard Wood and also worked as a consultant. His military education includes: Bridgeman Primary Technical Course; Primary Leadership Course; Primary Noncommissioned Officer Course; Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course; Drill Sergeant School; Master Fitness Trainer Course; Sapper Leader Course; Instructor Training Course; Instructor Supervisor Course; Airborne School; Ranger School; Air Assault School; Jumpmaster School; French Commando Course; and First Sergeant Course. CSM Falaniko is a graduate of Class-49 of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Additionally, he holds an Associate Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in Human Resource Management from Columbia College. His awards and decorations include: The Legion of Merit, (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster:; Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters); Good Conduct Medal (10th Award); Army Occupation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4); Overseas Service Ribbon (4); Army Service Ribbon; Ranger Tab; Sapper Tab; Master Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; Drill Sergeant Badge; French Commando Badge; Canadian Parachutist Badge; and German Bronze Marksmanship Badge. He also was awarded the DeFleury Bronze and Silver Medal of the Army Corps of Engineer. CSM Falaniko is the winner of the military Meritorious Service Award presented by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council for his significant contributions to the advancement of Asian Pacific Americans and the promotion of equal employment opportunity in the Federal work force and APA community. CSM Falaniko and his family are members of Gold Star Families. CSM Falaniko was a co-founder and a board member of the Sapper Association and also served in the position as Treasurer. CSM Falaniko is survived by his wife Maliana Afano Falaniko of St. Robert, MO, his son Niko Falaniko of Lakewood, Washington, his daughter Adeline Fuata and her husband Walter Fuata of Waynesville, MO, and his daughter Otilia Falaniko of St. Robert, MO. He is preceded in death by his son Jonathan Falaniko, killed in action of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003; Niko and Maliana have six grandsons, Niko Jr., Jonathan, Mario, Julian, Randy, and Leikoi and one granddaughter, Ariana. CSM Falaniko passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2021 in his home in St. Robert, MO having attained the age of 67 years. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville/ St. Robert. Visitation will be Saturday, from 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions in memory of Ioakimo Falaniko may be made and may be left at the funeral home.

CSM (Ret.) Ioakimo "Niko" Falaniko

August 6, 1954 - October 20, 2021