Over the past year, three Loa brothers saw duty in Iraq.

Their father, Duke Loa, who had a greater chance than most of hearing the news every soldier's parent dreads, last week learned that his son, Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey S. Loa, 32, was killed by a roadside bomb in Ramadi.

Although Jeffrey S. Loa grew up in American Samoa, and much of his family is there, he has a sister in Wai'anae and considered Hawai'i to be his second home, relatives said.

"It's still surreal. I'm trying to accept it, but I know he's in a better place," said his sister, Tanya Bishop.

From American Samoa, Duke Loa said, "Considering the loss of my son, I'm surprised that I took it fairly well."

Loa was killed last Wednesday when an improvised explosive device, or IED, exploded while he was on foot patrol. The married man was with the 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment out of Baumholder, Germany.

He was on his first deployment to Iraq and had been in the country for about nine months, family members said.

With Loa's death, 108 service members with Hawai'i ties have died as a result of injuries received in Iraq. Another 29 have been killed in Afghanistan.

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province and part of the Sunni Triangle, is considered one of the most dangerous places in Iraq. Support for the insurgency there runs high.

Bishop said the military didn't tell the family anything other than that Loa was killed by a roadside bomb.

Among those suffering the loss is Loa's wife, Mary, who had moved back to Kansas to be with her family during the deployment, Duke Loa said.

Noting that her brother married a year and half ago, Bishop added, "He would have been a great father because he was like a second dad to my kids."

In April, Jeffrey Loa sent some photos with the message, "Hello family, these are some pictures of us, man I am soooo hot and fine, love u all." Her brother had a sense of humor, but he was quiet, and not one for confrontation, Bishop said.

Duke Loa said, "Ask him a question and you'll get a smile from him before you get a direct answer."

Jeffrey S. Loa was the oldest of three brothers, all of whom had enlisted in the Army. Jason Loa was in Egypt after being in Iraq earlier this year, and brother Monty had been on deployment to Iraq, but is now back for the funeral.

Jeffrey S. Loa's stepbrother, Lloyd Mageo, is stationed at Schofield Barracks. "The younger ones wanted to follow each other (into the Army)," Bishop said.

Jeffrey S. Loa had been in the Army about nine years, but there was a gap in between when he had got out and then rejoined, family members said. He'll be buried in American Samoa, his father said.

"He joined the armed forces, so (going to Iraq) was part of his job," said Duke Loa, who also served in the Army. "The Samoans feel that it is an honor to serve in the military as part of their service to the (United States)."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.