Roadside Bomb in Afghanistan Kills Vancouver, Washington Soldier

The family asks that others please pray for our brave young men and women, and their families, who risk their lives to try to keep us safe at home.

Recent family photo of Elijah Rao

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) - "The words you never want to hear from a military officer or policeman. We heard them today."

That is how the family of Elijah Rao began their post on a blog Saturday. Elijah Rao and his family paid the nation's ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb planted by terrorists snatched his life away this weekend.

"We were informed by the military today our older son, Specialist Elijah Rao, was killed by an IED earlier today in Afghanistan. His convoy was stopped at the site of an explosion. Elijah stepped out of the humvee and within moments, another IED was detonated, taking Elijah out."

His family member writing the post, says the news is something they have feared for years. Elijah had already successfully completed several combat tours.

"Elijah survived two tours in Iraq and then Afghanistan. He was scheduled to come home in January on leave and then come home for good in May."

His family says Elijah will be remembered as an incredible, gentle, bright, loving person. They say the news of his loss, "hits really, really hard."

This soldier had a wife and a one-year old at home. His family says the coming week will be very difficult.

"We were visited by two incredible Army officers earlier today and spent most of this evening with another. We have a lot of grief and ceremony to move through this week, and beyond."

The family says they will continue to cry and mourn the loss of this young American soldier, and they want people to know what a fine and honorable and beloved person, Elijah was.

Special thanks to HDForums.com

And special thanks to Q Madp and IraqWarHeroes.org, where you can find an endless amount of information about those who are lost while serving at war.