Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shaped the history of the United States and have had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. Every May the Defense Department joins the rest of the nation in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Denise ''Tolo'' Atualevao was born in Honolulu. Her mother, Koroseta Ululima Atualevao, and father, Tafale Atoa Atualevao, are both from American Samoa.
Atualevao's mother grew up in the villages of Nua and Se'etaga and her father in the village of Leone.
"I am a proud full-blooded Samoan teine," she said, noting that teine means girl in Samoan.
Although she was born in Hawaii, Atualevao grew up in San Diego.
However, Atualevao said she was fortunate to have been able to visit American Samoa twice a year during summer and winter breaks, every year in college until 2014, when she graduated from Graceland University.
Atualevao said she is fluent in the Samoan language and is knowledgeable about the history and culture of the island.
Since enlisting in the Navy six years ago, Atualevao has worked as a hospital corpsman, stationed for her first two years at Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Florida, then three years on the USS Blue Ridge, an amphibious command ship, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. She is currently working at Naval Medical Center Point Loma Clinic in San Diego.
Besides working as a corpsman, Atualevao is also a member of the All-Navy Women's Volleyball team.
Playing volleyball has given her an added boost in competitiveness, teamwork, leadership and confidence — attributes that are so important to have in the Navy, she said.
"Being one of the team captains has definitely helped build my leadership skills and to not be afraid of whatever adversity we might face together," she said.
Making the cut for the team wasn't too difficult, because Atualevao said she's been playing volleyball continuously ever since she was in the third grade.
Since her team plays against other teams from around the world, Atualevao said she's made a lot of friends in other countries.
Atualevao said her future goal is becoming a health care administrator as a civilian, a Reserve naval officer as a health care administrator, and opening a club for Polynesian volleyball players.