By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

A 20-year-old Marine from the CNMI died in the line of duty in Iraq on Jan. 29, his family and relatives in Tanapag said yesterday.
Lance Cpl. Adam Quitugua Emul of Tanapag is the fourth soldier from the CNMI and among the over 3,000 American servicemembers who have died in Iraq
“I want the people to remember him as a hero — he served his country,” his brother Frank Quitugua, 32, told Variety in an interview in Tanapag yesterday.
He also asks for the community’s prayers for his brother.
Details surrounding Emul’s death in Iraq remain sketchy at this time, his relatives said.
“When I heard about his death, I stayed in the house and surfed the Internet because I wanted to learn more about what had happened. I kept looking for his name but it was not there yet,” Frank Quitugua said.
Preliminary online information from the U.S. Department of Defense indicated that a “Marine assigned to Multi-National Forces-West died Monday from wounds sustained due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense.”
“He was still young, only turning 20 in March. He was born in 1987,” Emul’s aunt Bernie Quitugua said. “He stayed with me when he was growing up, when his mom was working.”
Emul, the second youngest among six siblings, left Saipan for Washington in Nov. 2003, according to Bernie Quitugua. She said he joined the Marines in 2005 and was sent to Iraq in Sept. 2006.
“It was supposed to be a seven-month deployment. We learned about what happened to him Tuesday morning here,” his aunt said.
Emul’s cousin, Robert Quitugua, 37, described the fallen solider as a “quiet boy.”
“He didn’t talk much…but we knew being a soldier was what he wanted. It’s just unfortunate that there’s a war in Iraq right now,” Robert Quitugua said.
Emul’s family and relatives expect the soldier’s remains to arrive on Saipan in eight to nine days. About 17 family members from the U.S. mainland, including Emul’s mother, are expected to return to the island in the next few days for his funeral.
There is a daily 6 p.m. Mass and 7 p.m. rosary for Emul at the Tanapag church.
Press Secretary Charles Reyes Jr. said the Fitial administration is “deeply saddened by the loss of another CNMI soldier.”
“Governor Fitial extends condolences to the family,” said Reyes.
The other Iraq casualties from the CNMI include Sgt. Yihiyh “Eddie” L. Chen, who died on April 4, 2004; Staff Sgt. Wilgene T. Lieto and Specialist Derence W. Jack who died on Oct. 31, 2005.