Most Soldiers serving our nation have, unfortunately, attended memorials for lost comrades in arms. Thursday I participated in a memorial ceremony held at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, on the tenth anniversary of the death of Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe, a young Soldier killed in Iraq on Jan. 22, 2005. He was, as are all of our fallen heroes, a bright, young man with hopes and dreams of the future, and a bride of seven months. 1st Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe, 27, from Kailua, Hawaii died of wounds received when he and his platoon were attacked by enemy forces while on patrol in Mosul, Iraq. He and his Soldiers were tasked with providing security in support of Iraqs national elections-getting the word out to vote and handing out election fliers to inform Iraqi citizens of the upcoming election. Nainoa was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. Nainoa was born on Aug. 28, 1977 to his parents Adele and Allen. He married his wife Emily Mai Vo on June 24, 2004. He was known for his quick wit and sharp sense of humor, and attended the University of Hawaii, College of Business Administration from which he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. I host quite a few ceremonies like this at Arlington, but this one was personal. My son knew Nainoa and I consider Allen a close personal friend. Joining me in this ceremony were Nainoas friend Ashley Raethel, as well as Hawaiis two Congressional Representatives, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman Mark Takai. There are no words that may be used to help ease his friends and families loss, but I hope that the memorial ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery provides some small measure of comfort and assurance to Nainoas family, that his service, and life, is not forgotten by those who served with him, and who will honor him always.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:22:03 +0000
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