Home to spectacular beaches, breathtaking turquoise lagoons and dense mangrove forests, the Republic of Palau is a tropical archipelago located in the Western Pacific Ocean. This summer, Palau is also home for a detachment of U.S. Marines and Sailors with Task Force Koa Moana 23 including Cpl. Gavin Newton, a refrigeration and air conditioning technician.

Gavin had heard about Palau’s crystal-clear waters and stunning coral reefs, but what made this deployment special was a deeply personal connection. His grandmother, Antonia, had always spoken fondly of Palau, her birthplace, and she had regaled him with stories of her childhood on the islands.

“This is my first time in Palau,” said Gavin. “I have always dreamt of coming here. Palauan culture has always been a big part of my childhood. It has always been a big part of my grandmother’s life who held strong to her culture; my father is also very excited about Palau, but he hasn’t been here since he was a child.”

In 1969, the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands requested assistance from the United States in the form of Civic Action Teams. The Department of Defense obliged and before the end of the year, the first seven teams of Navy Seabees deployed. Among those Seabees was Steven Newton, Gavin’s grandfather. During his six-month deployment, he met his now wife Antonia.

“My grandfather was in Vietnam, after his tour there with the Seabees, he got the opportunity to come to Palau with the first CAT team,” said Gavin, a native of Taconite, Minnesota. “He came over here and sometime during his time working here in Palau, he met my grandmother at the local community center. I guess my grandfather had the good looks and smooth talking because the rest was history.”

Nowadays, to be close to both sides of the family, Antonia and Steven spend their summers in Minnesota and winters in Palau. However, when Gavin received orders to Palau, they moved their schedule around to align their time in Palau with his deployment.

“It is a blessing to have him here,” said Antonia. “First, he was going to go to Pohnpei, then Yap and so many other places, and then finally they told him Palau. I was so thankful he got to come here. I want him to experience the way of life.”

Nearly 55 years after his grandfather’s deployment, Gavin now has the opportunity to also serve the people of Palau through community engagements and training with the task force.

“The Marines are doing a variety of projects,” said Gavin. “There are crews that are improving the pistol range, straightening the flagpole at the President’s office, as well as doing some road construction and other things to help the community out.”

During the deployment, Gavin’s grandparents were also invited to attend an award ceremony where Gavin was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his efforts serving as the Puma Course Chief Instructor for the Palau Joint Operations Center. The RQ-20 Puma drones are surveillance drones and can be used for search and rescue as well as convoy security and reconnaissance.

“I am so proud of him and what he is doing to help the police learn to fly the drone,” said Antonia. “They have had that drone for two years, but have yet to use it.”

According to Gavin, he is getting just as much from his Palauan counterparts as they are from him.

“I feel lucky to be able to have this opportunity - I don’t even look at it as work. I am just excited to get up in the morning and go work with the Palauans and teach them. They teach me about their culture while I teach them about drones,” said Gavin. “It makes me feel really proud – not just having the opportunity to come visit Palau because I have always wanted to, but also contributing to improving their infrastructure as well as helping their law enforcement and enhancing their capabilities. I am very proud to say I was a part of Koa Moana.”