U.S. Army Private First Class Jaysine Petree, 19, a resident of Yigo, died in an explosion on Friday.
She joined the U.S. Army straight out of high school last year because she wanted to bring her family to the U.S. mainland.
“It was our goal together that we were going to have a big house on the mainland and bring our family there,” said Jam Petree, Jaysine’s younger brother.
After moving to Guam from the Philippines in 2002, Jam said he and his sister promised each other to work together to help their family.
“We just wanted to be successful in life. That was our main goal together,” Jam explained.
Jam said he was in the Philippines when he learned of his sister’s death and immediately flew back to Guam to be with his family.
“My uncle called me because my mom couldn’t speak,” Jam said. “She was in shock.”
Petree’s body was flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware yesterday, Guam time.
It was unknown as of yesterday when Petree’s body will be flown to Guam.
Petree is Guam’s 18th casualty and Micronesia’s 37th since the start of the War on Terror in 2003.
“Gov. Felix Camacho and I join the family, friends and the people of Guam in mourning the loss of U.S. Army PFC Jaysine Petree. We will forever be grateful for the sacrifice she paid on behalf of our freedom and liberty. She will always be remembered and honored in our hearts,” acting Gov. Mike Cruz said in a statement.
Cruz declared a state of mourning and ordered all flags to be flown at half staff in Petree’s honor.
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo also expressed her condolences: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of PFC Jaysine Petree. She made the ultimate sacrifice in answering the call of duty, and I join our island in mourning the loss of PFC Petree. I extend my most sincere sympathies and prayers to her family, friends and loved ones.”
Rosaries are being held nightly at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Yigo at 7:30 p.m.
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