Louis Moua went to Sacramento City College after graduating from Merced High School in 2008, but he realized years later that college wasn’t for him.
Moua had friends in the armed forces and he wanted to serve his country. So he joined the U.S. Army, said David Lee, Moua’s brother-in-law.
After a military career that included an eight-month tour in Afghanistan in 2014, Moua, 26, died July 8 during an early morning run at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Moua’s death is under investigation, according to Army officials, but the incident was described as physical training accident, according to a news release from the 7th Infantry Division.
Moua, a specialist, was running with his unit through a wooded area when he died. Madigan Army Medical Center emergency staff members responded and took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The infantryman was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Batallion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, and arrived at the base in September 2015, according to the 7th Infantry Division.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office said Moua was living in Lacey.
He is survived by his wife, Song Lor; daughters, 4-year-old Leiah and 3-year-old Elvyna; and the rest of his large but close family, Lee said.
“We’re so devastated,” he said. “He’s like a Superman to us. To his nieces and nephews, he was their American hero.”
Lee said Moua wrestled in middle school and high school.
Moua made a big impact on his friends, and family was very important to him, Lee said.
“There were two brothers in the family out of 12 siblings, and he was the youngest brother,” Lee said. “And he really cared for them and loved all the kids.”
Lee said a traditional Hmong funeral will be conducted soon.
