Army Cpl. David Fraise, of New Orleans, was assigned to Schofield Barracks. He died Monday in Afghanistan when his patrol was attacked.
Service was vital
to slain soldierThe Schofield corporal is killed
in an attack on his Afghan patrol
A 24-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier killed in Afghanistan was following a family tradition of military service.
Cpl. David M. Fraise, of New Orleans, died Monday in Kandahar when an improvised explosive device hit his patrol, the Defense Department said yesterday.
He followed a cousin, uncle and grandfather who served in the armed forces, according to his aunt Connie Craig.
"Helping people was one of his main priorities. He knew the Bible," Craig said. "I remember his mom saying this was something she couldn't talk him out of because this was something he wanted to do. He wanted to help the country."
Fraise was 7 when his father died. His mother, Juanita, still lives in New Orleans. He also leaves behind his wife, Jenaiece, and their 6-month-old daughter, Jireah, in Wahiawa.
Fraise went to church often and sang in a choir, Craig said. He graduated from Kennedy High School, where he participated in student government.
He joined the Army in June 2001, according to a news release from his infantry division.
He was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment. He is the second Schofield soldier to die after being sent to Afghanistan this year.
"I was hoping that it wouldn't happen," childhood friend Mike Fraise told the Star-Bulletin when he learned of his friend's death yesterday morning.
Mike Fraise said he grew up with David Fraise, went to elementary school with him and lived down the street from him. The two were not related.
"He was a good person, a Christian, went to church," Mike Fraise said. He described his friend as a good student with whom he played ball as a kid.
David Fraise is the second Schofield soldier to die in Afghanistan this year.
On May 1, Spc. Phillip L. Witkowski, 24, of Fredonia, N.Y., died in Germany from noncombat-related injuries sustained April 30 in Kandahar.
There are 5,000 Schofield troops stationed in Afghanistan and another 4,000 Schofield soldiers in Iraq. Since the start of the war in March 2003, 10 soldiers and one civilian with Hawaii ties have been killed in Iraq.
Star-Bulletin reporter Leila Fujimori and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
