Services start for soldier killed at Ft. Hood

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. -- Hundreds of people attended a memorial service Saturday for a St. Paul soldier killed in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas.

The service was the first of three days of traditional remembrances for 23-year-old Pfc. Kham Xiong, a Hmong immigrant. He was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan and was one of 13 people killed in the Nov. 5 attack.

Outside the Legacy Funeral Home in Maplewood, Chayee Lee fought back tears as he talked to Minnesota Public Radio about his brother-in-law.

"He was a family guy," Lee said. "He loved spending time with his kids, with his siblings and with us. He was a great guy."

Lee helped put together a slideshow of pictures for the service. He said the family is still struggling to cope with Xiong's death.

"I try not to think of it too much, but then seeing his picture and seeing my wife -- my wife looks just like Kham too -- it makes it even harder," Lee said.

At the funeral, it was announced that Xiong will be granted honorary posthumous U.S. citizenship. He came to the U.S. as a young child.

Among the public figures attending were Hmong Gen. Vang Pao and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The Xiong family has strong ties to the U.S. military -- Xiong's brother Nelson is a Marine serving in Afghanistan. In the 1970s, their father and grandfather fought alongside the CIA against the Viet Cong.

The services will continue through Monday afternoon. Xiong will be buried with military honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Xiong leaves behind a wife and three small children.

Check out our KARE family of Web sites:
	takeKARE		Metromix
	Moms Like Me		Minnesota Bound
	Showcase Minnesota