The retiring Commander of the United States Pacific Command in Hawaii, Admiral Timothy J. Keating, dropped into to Tonga for lunch, arriving in a private aircraft on Friday, September 4, on a three-hour farewell visit.

Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu hosted the luncheon at the TDS headquarters, attended by the Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele.

Brigadier 'Uta'atu said the Tonga...—US relationship dating back to World War II had been strengthened by the Admiral's role as the Pacific Commander, particularly when the TDS was provided with an opportunity to send a second TDS contingent to Iraq in 2008.

The Brigadier also commended the Admiral for being instrumental in the 2009 US-led Pacific Partnership Mission deployed to Ha'apai in July, which refurbished schools and provided much needed medical, eye and dental care to its residents.

Christian Soldiers

The Admiral expressed his sympathy to families affected by the Ashika ferry tragedy.

He vividly remembered visiting Iraq on Thanksgiving Day in 2007 and meeting 40 of the Tonga defence boys who were securing the headquarters of the Multinational Force, at the Al Faw Palace.

"I went in and they stood up, these big strong men and sang 'Onward Christian Soldiers', in Tongan, in the palace formerly occupied by Sadam Hussein," said Admiral Keating.

Repaying debt

Dr Sevele thanked the Admiral for strengthening the ties between Tonga and the United States. "I am pleased that you referred to the contingent in Iraq because that is one way that we are repaying our debt for the US for WWII and I hope our relationship becomes stronger as the years go by," said the Prime Minister.

The Admiral, who took up his position as Pacific Commander in 2007, was accompanied by his wife Mrs Keating and a 12 member entourage.