Henry “Hank” San Nicolas Ofeciar

Major

United States Army Finance Corps

Henry “Hank” San Nicolas Ofeciar, the oldest of 11 children, is the son of Pedro and Agnes San Nicolas Ofeciar was born on 5 July 1970 in Talofofo, Guam.

After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in 1988, Hank attended the University of Guam where in 1993 he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.  While attending the University of Guam, Hank joined the U.S. Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.  Hank attended the Army’s Comptroller Course, earning his masters degree in December 2005 from Syracuse University in New York, double-majoring in finance and public administration.

In January 2007, Hank married the former Angali Medappa.

A career military officer, Hank did not like to sit behind a desk.  Twice he volunteered in the mid-1990’s for peacekeeping missions in Bosnia.  While assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at fort Riley, Kansas, Hank volunteered to go to Afghanistan where he was an embedded advisor for the Afghan Police, helping them and the Afghan army on matters of security.  On 27 August 2007, Hank and his small team left Forward Operating Base Naray.  As the convoy approached Jalalbad, insurgents ambushed the convoy using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades.   A rocket propelled grenade hit the back of Hank’s Humvee.  Injured during the ambush, Hank returned to his base where he died from his wounds.

Holding lit tapered candles, family and friends welcomed home Hank on 9 September when his body arrived at Guam’s Won Pat International Airport.  As the Continental Airlines flight approached the terminal, it was greeted with a water salute, Governor Felix Camacho, Guam National Guard Adjutant General Major General Donald Goldhorn, and Talofofo Mayor Pedro Paulino.  After a brief ceremony and speeches, the U.S. Army Reserve Honor Guard carried the coffin through the old terminal, while Hank’s father, in his U.S. Customs and Border Protection uniform, stood firm and saluted.

Services were held at Talofofo’s San Miguel Church on 15 September.

Major Henry “Hank” San Nicolas Ofeciar, United States Army, was buried with full military honors in Guam’s Veterans’ Cemetery in Piti.

In honor of Hank’s sacrifice, the dormitory at the University of Guam housing the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps outfit was renamed the "Major Henry S. Ofeciar Army ROTC Administration Building".

In addition to his wife and parents, Hank was survived by three brothers; Pete (Maybelline) Ofeciar, Chris (Jessica) Ofeciar, and Patrick Ofeciar; and seven sisters; Orlene (Frank) Arriola, Doreen (Vince) Manibusan; Leilani (Andy) Duenas, Delia (Roy) Pablo II, Leilani (Jared) Quichocho, Francine Naputi, and April Ofceiar. 

Source of Information:

1.  U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs press release dated 5 September 2007.

2.  Guam’s News Network (www.kuam.com).

3.  Pacific Daily News (guampdn.com), 30 August, 1 September, 10 September 2007.