Family, friends say goodbye to Colonie soldier
COLONIE, N.Y. -- “He told me to take care of myself,” said Hassan Naqvi.
At the Al-Fatemah Islamic Center, this was a day to say goodbye.
“I'd see him later,” said Hassan Naqvi.
Mohsin Naqvi and his family left Pakistan for America when he was eight-years-old.
“When he was little, he would watch Rambo and say he wanted to do that one day. We were with him when he did it, every step of the way,” Naqvi said.
Four days after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, Mohsin Naqvi felt compelled to join the Army.
“He led the first invasion of Iraq. He was there for eight or nine months,” said Nazar Naqvi, Mohsin’s father.
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Even with his desire to serve, his family says he had to endure questions about his loyalty.
“Everyone asked about the origin of his name. Last name: Naqvi. Oh, what is the origin of his name? Arabic. Oh, you are Arab, are you sure you are in the right Army,” said Nazar Naqvi.
Still, he wanted to serve his country. His next assignment with the 199th Infantry Brigade out of Fort Benning, Georgia took him to Afghanistan. He was married the day before he deployed at the mosque where his funeral service would be held three months later.
Almost exactly seven years after he decided to use his talents to help his country, Lieutenant Naqvi was killed by a roadside bomb.
“When I picture him in Afghanistan, I see a humvee flipping up in the air and the last picture that I have is that his face which was wounded. His face regressed 10 years back. He was looking like an innocent kid in the coffin. I don't know if I'll be able to forget those memories. I'm proud of him,” said Syed Anwar Naqvi, an uncle of Mohsin.
“I am proud of him,” said Nazar Naqvi. “Not only me, but this entire community.”
Lt. Naqvi's family was presented with the flag that draped his coffin, his purple heart, his Combat Infantry badge and a bronze star for exceptional service.
“Mohsin was my hero. I just hope that everyone else can see him the same way,” Hawsan Naqvi said.
Hassan Naqvi now wears his brother's dog tags and has the same message for his brother as his brother gave him before the deployment.
“That I'll see him later,” Hassan Naqvi said.