Today is Fiji Military Force Infantry Day, a day held every year to commemorate the life of the late Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu who gave his life to save his comrades in the jungles of Bougainville.

Soldiers will be deployed to health centres and disadvantaged societies in the Suva and Nausori area today and tomorrow to do community work to mark this day.

"On June 23rd, 1944, at Mawaraka, Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands, Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu crawled forward to rescue some wounded soldiers when their platoon was ambushed.

After rescuing two soldiers, he volunteered to go alone through heavy fire to try and rescue another, however, was seriously wounded on his way back and fell to the ground.

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to rescue him by his soldiers and realizing that his men would not withdraw while he was still alive, he raised himself up in front of the enemy and was riddled with bullets.

Corporal Sukanaivalu sacrificed his life to save his soldiers."

Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama will address the soldiers at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks before they start their community work.