Richwell A. Doria slain by small arms fire

A 2000 graduate of San Diego's Morse High School was killed last week in Iraq, leaving behind his young family and a grieving Filipino community.

Army Staff Sgt. Richwell A. Doria, 25, died Nov. 7 in Kirkuk after being struck by small-arms fire during an air-assault mission, the Pentagon publicly announced yesterday.

He is survived by his wife, Jasmine, and the couple's 4-month-old baby, Jada, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and many relatives in San Diego and the Philippines.

Doria grew up in San Diego after moving from the Philippines when he was 11. His parents sent him to the United States so he would have opportunities he couldn't get back home, said his aunt Zenaida Anderson.

He joined the Army out of high school. At that time he dismissed relatives' suggestions that he join the Navy, as an uncle had done.

“He said he will do his own thing and not follow in anyone's footsteps,” his aunt said, sitting at the kitchen table of her Skyline neighborhood home, and surrounded by printouts of e-mailed photographs of her nephew.

Doria is at least the 35th county resident killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Based in Hawaii, Doria served in Afghanistan for a year, returning in April 2005, Anderson said.

Even though he had served abroad, he welcomed another mission, this one to Iraq.

Doria left Aug. 8, just weeks after the birth of his daughter July 14.

“He said, 'I don't want to sit around and do nothing,' ” his aunt recalled.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Regiment.

His aunt said the family learned of his death Wednesday from two servicemen who came to the door. In the days that followed, many former classmates and friends gathered at the house to share memories.

Doria was known for his energy. Before he left for Iraq, he was talking about plans to remodel a condo he and Jasmine were buying in Honolulu.

His passion was cars, and he owned a Mercedes and a Honda Accord, Anderson said. He liked wearing designer clothing, especially Tommy Hilfiger jeans, and flashing his gold rings.

When he was 11, his mother and father, Fred and Rosario Doria, sent him to live with his grandfather, San Diego resident Benito Doria.

Anderson said she and her sister, Minda Doria, took care of Richwell as if he were their own child. He also was close to his uncle, Manny Doria, who is a leader in the Filipino community and an aide to Rep. Bob Filner.

Richwell Doria attended Audubon Elementary, Keiller Middle and Morse High.

Doria became a U.S. citizen about two years ago.

“He called me up, he was so happy to be a citizen,” Anderson said.

Benito Doria, who said he doesn't speak much English, wanted to give his grandson a better life. He even legally adopted him.

Now, he said he feels regret that he brought him out of the Philippines – and into harm's way.

“He blames himself,” Anderson said, her eyes filling with tears. “I told him: 'Maybe it was his fate to go earlier.' ”

His parents and sister, Rowena, still live in the Philippines, and his body will be sent there, Anderson said.

A memorial will be held tomorrow in Honolulu.

In San Diego, a Mass will be celebrated sometime next week at St. Michael's Catholic Church.

From the San Diego Tribune