HONOLULU -- Flags across Hawaii flew at half-staff Thursday in honor of an Aiea soldier who was killed in action.

Army 1st Lt. Jonathan Brostrom was one of nine soldiers who died in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan. He was buried Thursday with full military honors.

Brostrom was born in Germany, stationed in Italy, but called Hawaii home.

Friends, family and complete strangers packed the Holy Family Parish Church for the funeral service.

Brostrom was the son of a military officer, one of two brothers who followed in their father’s footsteps.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice so that others might live, and for that I stand proud,” said Blake Brostrom, Jonathan's brother.

His fellow soldiers paid tribute to the friend who they said was always striving to make himself better and help others be stronger. They joked that Brostrom hated the cold and meals ready-to-eat.

“Jon, you were my Ranger buddy, my roommate,” said 1st Lt. Brandon Kennedy. “(You were) one of my best friends. Rangers lead the way.”

Brostrom’s ROTC buddies remembered him as a true University of Hawaii warrior.

“He was loyal to his friends and he always had my back,” said 1st Lt. Carter Johnson.

Brostrom, who friends also called Jon Boy and Bravo Jon, would have turned 25 next month.

At gravesite services at Kaneohe Veterans Cemetery, his father, a retired Army colonel clutched the hand of the young son Brostrom left behind.