Remembering
1LT Nainoa K. Hoe
1st Lt. Nainoa K.Hoe Mission Training Complex - Hawaii
1st Lt. Nainoa K.Hoe
The 1LT Nainoa K. Hoe Mission Training Complex (MTC) located on Schofield Barracks, provides training for all Hawaii-based units assigned to US Army Pacific as well as US Marine Corps, US Air Force, US Navy, US Army reserves and National Guard units.
Dedicated on 9 February 2007, This state-of-the-art facility is approximately 90,000 square feet. The complex provides multipurpose training space that can be easily be reconfigured to accommodate special training needs. The facility is instrumental to providing trained and ready formations to USARPAC Commanding General.
The MTC can support live, virtual, constructive and/or gaming training (LVCG) to soldiers and leaders. The different types of training can be executed alone or in combination. MTC allows unit commanders to centralize training from one location: an economical and ecological advantage to training.
Live Training involves soldiers outfitted with instrumented systems that emit telemetry to share position location and other simulated weapons effects. MTC enhances live training—which is the hallmark of Army training at squad, platoon and company level.
Virtual Training allows crews and individuals to conduct combat raining in three dimensional (3D) environments aboard life-like platforms. Companies, platoons, squads and crews develop tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) for convoy operations utilizing the Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer (RVTT) and air to ground operations utilizing Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT).
Constructive Training allows commanders and staff to exercise Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) under stressful conditions. This training simulates realistic operations in all environments and interfaces (or “stimulates”) the mission command computer systems operated by brigade, division and corps staff.
When I finished my tour of The 1LT Nainoa K. Hoe Battle Command Training Center I was filled with admiration for soldiers and leaders in today's Armed Forces with regard to technology at hand; moreover, I stood in reverence of a complex named to honor an outstanding Gimlet Warrior killed in action January 2005 as a Platoon Leader with C Company 3-21 IN supporting combat operations in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom III. I envy the men and women who make up today's military. They have some of the most awesome technology at their beckon call to prepare for war. Something that many of us older veterans could only have wished for back in the day.
Memorialization of the Battle Command Training Center In Honor of 1LT Nainoa K. Hoe Schofield Barracks, Hawaii Speech by COL(P) Robert B. Brown, 9 February 2007
Welcome to our distinguished guests, fellow soldiers, family and friends. Most importantly I want to welcome Allen, Adele and Nakoa Hoe and their family and friends. I also want to recognize some special guests that are with us today who had a huge impact in Nainoa’s life (Recognize key individuals from Allen Hoe’s list).
Today we celebrate the life of a true patriot and one of America’s finest, Nainoa Hoe. Nainoa was an incredibly talented young man who excelled at every challenge he ever faced. He could have been successful at any profession, but he was drawn to a life of service to others. We are indeed grateful beyond measure that he chose selfless service towards the cause of freedom over the comforts of an easier life. Perhaps Thucydides said it best thousands of years ago when he stated: “But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” Nainoa consistently chose the harder right over the easier wrong as he served his country with incredible pride. Because of brave and noble soldiers like Nainoa, we can all enjoy the freedom that we cherish so much. I had the honor and privilege to serve with Nainoa and to know him as a great leader who truly loved his fellow soldiers and was admired and respected by all of those who knew him. Among a very talented group of junior leaders, he was one of the best.
The simulation center is the perfect facility to be named in honor of Nainoa Hoe for several key reasons. First, this critical facility trains soldiers and leaders with state of the art simulation equipment. Nainoa trained in a similar facility at Fort Lewis Washington. This facility enables units here at Schofield and from other installations around the Pacific to simulate realistic conditions and prepare soldiers for the challenges of combat operations. Units will improve their ability to deploy anywhere in the world and win by using this simulation center. Nainoa understood the importance of simulation as his bachelor degree at the University of Hawaii was in information management systems. Additionally, Nainoa would face one of his first tests of true toughness and courage right outside this facility. You see, as a young Junior ROTC cadet at the age of 14, Nainoa would participate in a 15 mile run as part of the junior ranger challenge that went up KoleKole Pass road, right by where we are seated today. As he and his father left the house early in the morning his father remarked that he would leave as a boy and would come back as a man after the challenging run. Nainoa was beaming with pride and as he did in all challenges, he excelled that day and he also realized that there was no challenge he could not master.
Nainoa was drawn to service so much that he joined the reserves after receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and headed off to basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. Given his obvious talents he excelled so much that he was offered the chance to go right to Officer Candidate School, but he explained to his father that he wanted to learn to be a soldier first so that he could be a more effective leader in the future. Nainoa finished basic and advanced training as the honor graduate for both courses. He would continue to excel while in the reserves earning the honor of Reserve Component Soldier of the year for the Pacific Command and runner-up as reserve soldier of the year for the entire Army.
Earning a prestigious scholarship to receive his MBA from the University of Hawaii, Nainoa would continue to serve in the reserves with the famous 100th Infantry battalion, while participating in ROTC. Excelling in the ROTC program, he would become the highest ranking cadet as the battalion commander and graduate as a distinguished military graduate. Nainoa also has the distinction of receiving Governor Linda Lingle's first Governor's Award, presented each year to Hawaii's best ROTC Cadet. In May of 2003 he received his MBA Degree with Honors and received his coveted Gold Bars as an Infantry Officer. He would then breeze through the officer basic course, airborne school and excel in the toughest school in the army – Ranger school.
Nainoa was very proud of his Hawaiian warrior heritage and always felt the desire to serve based on his heritage. As the traditional Hawaiian warriors will demonstrate to you today during this ceremony, there is an incredible pride of service and honor that goes back generations. Nainoa is clearly a part of this magnificent warrior heritage. He was incredibly proud of his father’s service In Vietnam and in fact, carried the same U.S. flag in Iraq that his father’s Recon Team carried in Vietnam two members of his father’s team have journeyed far to be here today, Paul Ternullo and Orlando Vasquez. That very special battle flag is proudly flying today at this ceremony along with Nainoa’s guideon which contains the signatures of his beloved men.
I must tell you that there is no doubt that Nainoa would be an incredible success coming from such a special family. Allen, Adele & Nakoa are a truly amazing family and the most giving, caring and loving family I have ever seen. During the toughest times, they were always there for those in need and in fact they are always more concerned about helping others than their own personal needs. I know how proud Nainoa was of his Dad, Mom and little brother as he beamed with pride when he talked about his tremendous family.
You can tell a lot about a leader and their leadership style by talking to their subordinates, peers and superiors. The remarkable thing about Nainoa’s leadership was that all of these different groups had consistently the same input about his leadership style. I would summarize it with the following words: commitment, focus and passion. Nainoa was totally committed to his soldiers and in his belief in the cause for freedom. For example, after finishing the rigorous Ranger school most soldiers take as long a break as they possibly can, both to recover and to enjoy the many pleasures they missed in Ranger school. Nainoa took no leave after Ranger school and drove as fast as possible straight from Georgia to Fort Lewis to get to his platoon as quickly as possible. He had incredible focus on the mission at hand. This focus allowed him to excel where others were distracted or would fall off course. His company commander told me that he had a huge impact on training within the entire company as he was so incredibly focused on the mission.
Martin Luther King once stated: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” Nainoa excelled during the tough times, in combat he was a role model for all to follow. His tireless efforts in the city of Mosul would lead to the first free elections in Iraq in over 30 years. He consistently led his men with incredible courage. On one notable mission, his platoon was given the task to rapidly assist an Iraqi Army unit that had been pinned down by the enemy. Without hesitation and with incredible skill he was able to rapidly assist his fellow soldiers and provide the support that would save their lives. His battalion commander, LTC Mike Gibler, stated: “At Nainoa's promotion ceremony in Iraq, I listened to the comments made by his platoon and fellow officers as they filed past to congratulate him and what I witnessed was their acknowledgement that he had become a seasoned and trusted combat leader who all respected as well as the recognition that he was always learning, growing and endearing himself to those around him.”
Additionally, Nainoa had a true passion for leading soldiers. He possessed a passion that can’t be taught or learned. Nainoa’s platoon sergeant, SFC Corey Myers is here with us today from Fort Benning Georgia, and he consistently saw the passion Nainoa had to care for his soldiers and always do the right thing. SFC Myers told me that Nainoa was the best platoon leader he had served with in his 13 years in the Army. He truly loved his men and was passionate about leading them. This passion also extended to the Iraqi people. Nainoa felt deeply about the importance of the mission and the ability to bring freedom to the Iraqi people and to stop the terrorists from spreading their hateful extremist ideology. He led his unit in helping the Iraqi people by getting clothes sent from the states for the Iraqi children and he loved to hand out Hawaiian dolls and school supplies on a regular basis.
l thank God for brave men like Nainoa Hoe. Because of his willingness to serve a cause greater than himself, we all have the chance to enjoy freedom. You see, despite all the rhetoric you hear on a daily basis about the situation in Iraq, those of us that were doing our duty as soldiers and were on the ground on a daily basis had a very clear purpose. It was easy to see that the Iraqi people deserved and desired their freedom and that the enemy we face is perhaps the greatest threat to freedom loving people in history. The extremist ideology that knows no limits to the evil they will embrace and will not tolerate any thoughts that vary from their own, must be stopped. Nainoa Hoe understood the importance of this fight and he understood that freedom is the terrorists’ greatest enemy. We should all take great comfort in knowing that soldiers and citizens today, as well as generations to come, will learn who Nainoa was and will understand his sacrifice thanks to this simulation center being named in his honor. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to a true American patriot who is a hero to all of us. The portrait of 1Lt Nainoa K. Hoe, displayed in the foyer says it all about this remarkable young man, perhaps only one thing would make it complete. The recitation of his two most favorite accolades, “GO FOR BROKE” & RANGERS LEAD THE WAY.” Thank you again for joining us for this special event.
