[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF 1LT NAINOA K. HOE, USA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

  Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today we honor the life, passion, and 
patriotism of Nainoa K. Hoe, First Lieutenant, United States Army, a 
fallen American hero.
  Although I have shared the stories of selflessness and sacrifice of 
our fallen soldiers before, this time is different.
  First Lieutenant Hoe never lived in the Congressional District I 
represent. Truth be told, he never lived in Oregon. But his wife Emily, 
her family, and their friends were hopeful about the day he might.
  His widow is a senior at Western Oregon University; she is proud of 
him and his contribution. Her greatest concern has been for her 
husband's men, his family, and the friends in their life.
  It seems that bravery, commitment to service, and honor were 
personality traits shared by husband and wife. The young Hoe family 
will not get the years they deserved, but they are an example of love 
that we should all strive to emulate.
  Just days ago, First Lieutenant Hoe was killed while leading his 
platoon on a foot patrol in Mosul. With him, the dreams of a radiant 
young couple with so much to offer--so many things to live and do--were 
buried in the sand of a country in transition.
  Sadly, First Lieutenant Hoe was almost home. His rotation nearly 
completed, he was scheduled to return to the Pacific Northwest on 
February 6, 2005.
  Though proud of his contribution to the long-term stability of Iraq 
and its people, he was an excited newlywed, looking forward to building 
a family, winning a position at the FBI, and enjoying the freedoms he 
had worked so hard to protect.
  For Nainoa, courage was a family value. He believed that military 
service was an expected privilege; a duty that he proudly discharged. 
He reveled in his role as a commander of a combat platoon--a duty 
similar to the kind his father Allen Hoe completed during his time in 
Vietnam.
  First Lieutenant Hoe believed there was nothing more important--no 
duty more sacred--than defending the ideals of this Nation, of fighting 
for a cause greater than him.
  He believed these things knowing full well it meant risking his life, 
liberty, and his own happiness.
  I believe we live in a smaller world these days. It grows smaller 
with each tragedy such as this. Every life matters--especially when it 
holds such promise.
  Oregonians today are feeling the loss. Let us commit ourselves, 
here--in this chamber--to work even harder and do our part to make 
sound decisions about matters of peace and war; to be worthy of the 
trust Nainoa K. Hoe placed in our hands.
  Let us pledge ourselves to being worthy of the sacrifice Nainoa 
freely offered; we owe him, and those that will follow, nothing less.

                          ____________________