I had intended to write this post yesterday but was derailed by the tragic crash of a US Marine helicopter in Iraq. All aboard were killed, including 26 soldiers home-stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and one US Navy medical corpsman from Pearl Harbor. Their stories are just starting to be told.
But the story I'm about to tell today is the story of 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe. Lt. Hoe was not part of the helicopter incident but rather died a few days earlier. In reading fellow Daynoter Brian Bilbrey's post on Wednesday, Brian listed the names of three soldiers killed in Iraq, one of which was Hoe.
Brian's post got me to thinking that I should tell you folks a little more about who Lt. Hoe was.
It is sometimes easy to forget that each of these soldiers has their own story. Each has families, parents, and other relatives that care for them. Each had dreams of what they wanted to do with their lives once they got back to the Real World.
Lt. Hoe was no different. Hoe was a native Hawaiian and graduated in 1995 from the Kamehameha Schools, a school founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop in 1887. From there he went to the University of Hawai'i (UH) where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems and then on to a Masters in Business Administration. While at UH, Hoe enrolled in the ROTC program, rising to Brigade Commander in his last year (the highest leadership position possible). He graduated tops in his ROTC class and fourth nationwide (out of about 4,500).
In further recognition of his leadership qualities, Nainoa was named U.S. Army Pacific Reserve soldier of the year in 1998.
But besides the obvious leader he was, what kind of person was Lt. Hoe? People have described Nainoa as charismatic, serious, precise, well-mannered, and unassuming. But, at the same time, he loved to sing karaoke and be with his friends.
Perhaps it was some of these qualities that attracted the young woman who would soon become his wife. Emily (I love that name) said they met through the Internet in November 2003, exchanging photos and information in an online match-making service. At the time, he was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., going through Ranger school with a goal of eventually working for the FBI as a special agent. She was a student attending a college in Oregon.
"When I saw his picture and saw his smile, there was something about it that really drew me in," Emily said. They arranged a meeting in Oregon, "and it was one of those love-at-first-sight kind of things."
They were married, in a simple ceremony, about six month later. On the beach in Hawaii Kai. At sunset. With just their parents attending. Just before being sent for additional training and then on to Iraq in October.
On Saturday, January 22, 2005, Lt. Hoe sent an e-mail to his wife telling her that he had just found out he would get a two-week leave in February. He was excited that he would get the opportunity to see her and that he wanted them to spend their time in Hawaii. The e-mail went on to say that "he was going to love me forever and how he couldn't wait to see me," Emily said.
Two hours later, while on foot patrol in Mosul, Iraq, where U.S. forces have been mounting stepped-up raids and patrols ahead of national elections scheduled for this Sunday, shots rang out. As if in slow motion, a spray of bullets came flying his way. And even though he had body armor on to protect his chest and back, a bullet struck him from the side, passing through a gap in the protective vest and into his chest.
He is survived by his heartbroken parents (Allen, a Vietnam veteran, and Adele), a younger brother (Nakoa, also in the military and being deployed to Iraq) and his loving 21-year-old wife - Emily.
Whether you support the war in Iraq or not, remember that there is a story behind each and every name on the list of soldiers. Remember that there is a price to pay for being in Iraq. And remember that, sometimes, that price is paid in the blood of soldiers like 1st. Lt. Nainoa Hoe. May he rest in peace and may his death not have been in vain.
Have a Great Weekend, Everyone - Aloha!
