Waianae grad
had lifelong dream
of the Army

Pfc. Joshua Titcomb's parents
describe him as loving adventure

Pfc. Joshua K.B. Titcomb of Waianae, the 14th person with Hawaii ties to die in the Iraq war, was a proud and dedicated soldier who at 3 years old declared that he wanted to be a "GI Joe policeman," his parents said yesterday.

Titcomb died Friday in Ar Ramadi of injuries he received a day earlier when an improvised explosive device exploded near his military vehicle.

Titcomb, 20, was described by his parents, Tennison and Elizabeth Titcomb, as a boy who loved the beach and football while growing up in Waianae.

"He was a very brave soldier and a hero. Joshua fought for a cause he believed in. He died for a cause he believed in," said his mother. "He was willing and proud to serve his country. He loved being in the Army and being a Tanker."

Titcomb, who graduated from Waianae High School in 2000, was one of seven sons. He also had two younger sisters. The family did not release the names of his survivors.

Army officials released a written statement from his parents, who declined to be interviewed.

"From the beginning, at only 3 years old, Joshua told me he wanted to be a GI Joe policeman," Tennison said. "He was ready to go to Iraq. He never said he was scared -- he loved this stuff."

He described his son as "a people person, and always did things to help people. He knew what he wanted and went and got it. He had determination."

His mother said her son went to the mainland for adventure.

"We gave him family values -- values to live his life with," Elizabeth said, "and he used them. We gave him the foundation. After that he wanted adventure. He couldn't stay in one place long, not even in Hawaii. He was always going to different places."

Once on the mainland, Titcomb told his mother that he was going into the Army "to make a difference," she said.

Tennison said his son always had "a thing for girls" from an early age.

"He was 10 years old, all dirty, no shoes, crazy hair, hanging out at the beach, and he would walk up to girls saying, 'Hey, sisters, got boyfriend?'

"He had a magnetism that girls just can't resist. And he had no fear. He would walk up to anyone and start talking. No matter the way he looked, even with his broken English, he got his point across. He was who he was."

He also had a passion for surfing.

"When surfing at Patrick's Pond in Makaha, he was the last one out of the water," his father said. "We had to call him an hour before we needed him out. He kept saying, 'Just one more wave' -- he would catch it and then say it again, 'Just one more.' And that went on for an hour."

Titcomb was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Korea.

While stationed in Korea before going to Iraq, Titcomb met a woman who was also in the military; she recently found out she was pregnant, and the excited couple planned to marry, according to friends.

Titcomb became the 13th soldier with Hawaii ties to die in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. A civilian from the Big Island was also killed.

Of the 14 deaths in Iraq, 13 were due to hostile action. Seven of them were from the 25th Infantry Division. Four other 25th Division soldiers were killed in Afghanistan.

Services for Titcomb will be held at 9 a.m. next Tuesday at Sacred Hearts Catholic Church in Waianae. Burial arrangements are pending.