Condolences continued to be passed along yesterday for the first citizen soldier from Hawai'i to be killed in Iraq.

Deyson "Dice" Cariaga was killed Friday when a roadside bomb was detonated as Cariaga and three other National Guard soldiers rode past in their Humvee. The blast killed Cariaga and injured the three other soldiers, none of whom were from Hawai'i.

Christie Kaplan, of Leesburg, Va., was part of a soldier support group called "Soldier's Angel" and drew Cariaga's name in March.

She began corresponding with him right away.

"I just found out that he was killed," Kaplan said. "He was to turn 21 at the end of the month, and I had just mailed a package to him on Saturday with lots of goodies."

She said she learned Cariaga loved surfing and was able to include several surfing magazines in the package she mailed to Cariaga the day after he was killed, unaware of his demise.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, issued his condolences as well, saying he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Sgt. Cariaga."

"As a member of our Island 'ohana, his death hits home especially hard," Abercrombie said. "I join our entire community in extending heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends and fellow soldiers.

"He was one of America's finest. We honor him for his courage, patriotism and devotion."

Cariaga, 20, of Kamehameha Heights, was assigned to the 29th Brigade Combat Team, 229th Military Intelligence Company. The 29th BCT began a 12-month deployment to Iraq in January.

About 3,700 soldiers are part of the brigade, and more than 2,200 are from the Hawai'i Army National Guard and Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. Its units are in Kuwait, Baghdad and LSA Anaconda, an air base about 50 miles north of Baghdad.

The Iraq duty represents the first time the 29th Brigade has been sent to war since the Vietnam War.

Hawai'i Army National Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony said Cariaga's remains were expected to arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last night and could arrive in Hawai'i early next week.

Anthony, who is serving as a spokesman for Cariaga's family members, said they are still working through their grief and are not ready yet to talk publicly about his life and times.

The family will likely hold a memorial service for Cariaga but is still working on the details, and no date or place had been decided as of yesterday, Anthony said.

Largely because Cariaga was young and single, a memorial fund in his name had not been established as of yesterday, Anthony said.