CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lance Cpl. Noah Pier always wanted to be a Marine, and his family said they’ll miss his "laughter and love of life."
Pier "was our son, brother, grandson, uncle and cousin. He believed in what he was fighting for and he died for your freedom," the family said in a statement late Thursday.
Pier, 25, of Charlotte, died Tuesday while serving overseas in Afghanistan in the ongoing combat offensive in Helmand province, the Department of Defense said this week. He was a machine gunner assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Pier, who joined the Marine Corps in 2007, had served one previous tour in Iraq and deployed to Afghanistan in November.
Here is the full text of his family's statement:
"Lance Cpl. Noah Miles Pier was our son, brother, grandson, uncle and cousin. He believed in what he was fighting for and he died for your freedom. Noah proudly served his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The oldest of 10 siblings and the first grandson on both sides of the family, Noah always wanted to be a Marine.
Noah was such a happy man and he loved to laugh. He greatly anticipated coming home from Afghanistan to marry his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Black. His laughter and love of life will be sorely missed.
Noah will be escorted home to Charlotte by family member GySgt. Michael L. Kiernan, U.S.M.C.
Noah will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Charlotte services are pending.
We truly appreciate the outpouring of support from our friends and neighbors in the Charlotte-area.
Lance Cpl. Noah Miles Pier, our hero."
