ASSOCIATED PRESS Allen Hoe, father of 1st Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe, 27, of Hawaii saluted at a memorial for his son in the main Post Chapel at Fort Lewis, Wash., on Jan. 26. Hoe was killed by a sniper as he led a foot patrol in Mosul, according to the Defense Department. The recently married Army officer was praised by teachers and officers as a standout ROTC commander and business student. The elder Hoe is an attorney in Honolulu and as well as an Army veteran.

Loss inspires
love for troops

The family of a soldier killed in
Iraq calls for support for others
with loved ones in the region

The family of 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, who was killed in Iraq by a sniper while leading his platoon on Jan. 22, asked that Hawaii also remember more than 2,200 soldiers of Hawaii's 29th Infantry Brigade who will be spending a year in Iraq.

Nainoa Hoe: Memorial service for the Army infantry officer will be held tomorrow

In a written statement released yesterday, the Hoe family said: "With Hawaii's own 29th Brigade now moving into its war footing, remember the families at home 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."

Advance elements of the Hawaii Army National Guard unit, which also includes another 1,400 soldiers from mainland units, arrived in Iraq earlier this week after spending time in Kuwait. The Hawaii Guard unit, part of the largest call-up of citizen soldiers since World War II, will be in Iraq for a year. They will replace soldiers of the Washington Army National Guard's 81st Combat Brigade Team.

Spc. Nakoa Hoe, Nainoa's younger brother, is a member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, one of three combat brigades assigned to the 29th Brigade. Army officials say that the younger Hoe has not said whether he will seek a waiver from combat duty since he is now the sole surviving brother.

In the written statement, 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.

"We wish to extend our sincerest mahalo to everyone for your 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. His love for life, his wife and being an Army infantry officer provides a consolation which helps in this painful time. 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."

"We appreciate the community coming together. Please continue your support and prayers for the servicemen and women in harm's way."

Nainoa Hoe, 27, of Maunawili, was killed in Mosul, Iraq, while leading the 2nd Platoon of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry. The unit is part of the 1st Stryker Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division and is stationed at Fort Lewis.

A memorial service will be held at Kawaiahao Church from 6 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.

Hoe graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1995, and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration. He was commissioned into the Army as a member of UH's Army ROTC program. As an officer he earned the paratrooper's wings, the U.S. Navy Scuba School badge and the coveted "Tab" of the U.S. Army's elite Rangers. Prior to his commissioning as a second lieutenant, Hoe served as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve and was part of Delta Company of the "Go For Broke" 100th Battalion.

Both the Army Reserve and the UH Army ROTC will provide an honor guard at Tuesday's burial.

Hoe is survived by his wife, Emily Mai; brother Nakoa, and parents Allen and Adele.