Slain soldier had
‘biggest heart’

Wesley Wells, killed in
Afghanistan, was like
a brother to friends

Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division's Wolfhound regiment gathered today in Afghanistan to pay tribute to a fallen comrade, Spc. Wesley Wells, who wanted to be an elite special forces soldier and was "everyone's little brother."

"I planned to tell the battalion that Wesley Wells would be the first to take on the next mission if someone in his unit was killed in action. I want them to make sure their resolve is hard -- to get a victory in this war," said Capt. Tommy Cardone in a phone interview from Afghanistan last night (Hawaii time).

Cardone, commander of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment (better known as the Wolfhounds), made the comments as he prepared for today's memorial at Forward Operating Base Orgun-E near the Pakistani border.

Wells, 21, of Illinois was killed early Monday morning when his observation post in Paktika was attacked by anti-coalition militia forces. Paktika is a stronghold of Taliban militants who are working to disrupt the country's first presidential elections on Oct. 9.

Wells is the 25th Infantry Division's fourth combat fatality in Afghanistan and the first Wolfhound to die in the war on terrorism.

A similar private prayer service was to be held today at Schofield Barracks' main chapel.

Cardone said Wells was in his company for the last 19 months and was assigned to an observation post protecting a vehicle checkpoint when it was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices just after 2:30 a.m. Monday.

"Three or four individuals attacked the OP (observation post) with small arms, and he was the only casualty," Cardone said.

Cardone described Wells as "a great kid. He was known as everyone's little brother. He was always smiling. He was always happy. He was just a great soldier."

Sgt. James Lopez, Wells' squad leader in Alpha Company, said he talked with the soldier "just 10 minutes before he went to the OP."

Lopez said Wells had his sights on making the Army a career and had wanted to join its elite Special Forces branch.

"He loved the Army," said Lopez, who has known Wells for more than a year. "He was always reading about the Army. His last book was 'A More Elite Soldier.'

"He was always motivated to do his job ... to better himself."

Lopez described Wells as "an extremely generous guy with the biggest heart. You could count on him on coming up with cab fare if you were short or a shoulder to lean on."

In his spare moments in Afghanistan, Wells would talk about his family in Illinois and his wife, Jonalyn, whom he met on the North Shore and married earlier this year before he shipped out for Afghanistan.

"He talked a lot about Hawaii," Lopez said, "and going home to see his wife and his three sisters."

Wells will be buried in Libertyville, Ill., where he was born. He attended Libertyville High School, about 40 miles north of Chicago. A school official said that more than 1,800 Libertyville students observed a moment of silence Tuesday after Wells' death was announced.

He is the 17th person with Hawaii ties to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wells enlisted in the Army in May 2002 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in October. He was an infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. His family said he had to overcome a problem with asthma to pass the Army physical since he wanted to make the military a career.