A Fort Lewis Stryker brigade soldier who just wanted to help the new Iraqi Army get on its feet was killed by a sniper's bullet in Baghdad. Staff Sergeant Hector Leija was memorialized at the base on Wednesday.

Leija had been stationed at the base in quite awhile. He helped form the 3rd brigade and so a lot of people knew him. Now a lot of people miss him.

"With his passing we didn't just lose a fellow soldier, we lost a brother and a friend," Staff Sgt. Michael Bloom told the memorial service.

The memorial is a world away from the fighting Iraq. But all thoughts are with the soldiers of the 3rd brigade as they continue to battle insurgents in Baghdad.

Last Wednesday Sgt. Leija's unit was helping the new Iraqi Army try to regain control of Haifa Street. As fellow soldiers went on the offensive a sniper's bullet hit Sgt. Leija in the head. He died later from his wounds.

"One testament to Sgt. Leija's work was the remarkable way that his squad reacted to the attack that took their leader from them," said Stryker commander, Maj. Robert Bennett. "They continued their mission while the doctors and nurses of the 28th Surgical Hospital fought to save their comrade."

Sgt. Leija was not married and had no children. He leaves behind his mother and father and three brothers in a small town near Houston, Texas. His family says he passed up a chance to play major college football in order to join the Army.

"Just thanks for all of the community support of our soldiers and families," said commanding officer, Maj. Gen. James Dubik. "Every one of these lives are special and every one represents a sacrifice to the nation."

"He's made such a big impact on most of us that his memory will stay with us for the rest of our lives," Bloom said. When we think of him and we think of the fun times we've had with him it will be okay to smile because that's what he would want."