WAIPAHU, Hawaii -- Family members of a soldier with Hawaii ties who was killed in Iraq this week said Sgt. Richard Correa, 25, joined the Army to be on the front lines.

Correa's cousin, Mae Correa Acosta Myhre, lives in Waipahu. She called Correa by his middle name, Valiant. It was her cousin's third deployment to Iraq.

"He was full of energy. He just keep running. He's very active. Like you have to tell him, 'Can you stop? Can you keep still for a while?'" Myhre said.

The two considered themselves brother and sister, growing up together in the Philippines. Correa affectionately called her "ate," or big sister in Tagalog. They lived together in Waipahu before he joined the military in 2000.

"When he was in Iraq, he told me he wants to kill them all, all our U.S. enemies," Myhre said.

Correa was a patrol leader and ranger for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Drum, N.Y. On Tuesday, he was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol.

Myhre said she was grief-stricken when she heard the news of his death.

"Your brother, Richard is already dead.' So, we all cried and my parents were crying, and I was shock about it too, but I had to be strong," Myhre said.

Correa's fiancé, Corey Dell, said he was disappointed when his one-year deployment to Iraq had been extended. However, his support of the mission there never wavered, she said.

He was scheduled to return home in October. Dell and Correa planned to get married two months later in Florida.

Correa loved surfing and one day hoped to move to Oahu's North Shore, family members said.

"He is a very dedicated soldier, and he loved Hawaii so much," Myhre said.

Correa's body will be flown next week to the Philippines, where he will be laid to rest.