NEWBERG, OR, US
U.S. Army
1LT, C CO, 3D BN, 21ST INF, 25TH INF DIVISION, FORT LEWIS, WA
01/22/2005, MOSUL IRAQ
The family of a Hawaii soldier who was killed in Iraq is asking Hawaii residents to remember the Hawaii National Guard members who will be spending a year in Iraq. Advance elements of the Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade arrived in Iraq last week.
The family of 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe issued a statement asking the people of Hawaii to remember the brigade families “who will live in fear every day until their loved ones return.”
“Help them now, love them now and share your aloha with them now as we have learned to cherish life in this special place we call home,” the Hoe family said.
Hoe’s younger brother, Nakoa, is a member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, one of three combat units assigned to the 29th Brigade. Army officials say the younger Hoe has not said whether he will seek a waiver from combat duty since he is now the sole surviving son.
The Hoe family said it is “deeply humbled by the outpouring of love and aloha for Nainoa. We are truly blessed with wonderful memories of his life and remain in awe of the countless others whose lives he touched and made a difference.” The family extended its thanks for the prayers and messages of love and support.
“Nainoa was not one who just dreamed, he dedicated his life to making things happen. Above all, he loved life, especially when he was sharing with or helping others,” the statement said.
“Nainoa would want us to remember the good times and the many blessings we shared and above all to celebrate his life and the things he cherished, ohana, his heritage and the men and women he served with in the Army…he lived his dream,” the family said.
Nainoa Hoe, 27, was killed by a sniper in Mosul, Iraq, while leading his platoon on Jan. 22. He was a graduate of the Kamehameha School and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration. He was commissioned as an Army officer through the UH ROTC program.