Nearly 600 U.S. service members from around Kuwait filled the small Camp Virginia chapel yesterday to pay last respects to Spc. Cwislyn K. Walter, a 19-year-old Hawai'i National Guard soldier who was killed Thursday in a vehicle accident in Kuwait.

An upturned rifle topped by a helmet with Walter's combat boots and photo were arrayed in the chapel for the traditional combat memorial for the 2007 Farrington High graduate.

The teen, who was less than two years out of high school, still had senior graduating-class pictures and prom snapshots showing herself and friends with broad smiles on her Bebo social networking page.

"Well, (there's) not much to say. The name is Cwislyn Walter, and I'm just livin' life while I can," the Kalihi resident said on her MySpace page.

Lt. Col. Moses Kaoiwi, who commands the 29th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, said Walter had a positive impact and brought out the best in everyone.

"In my 26 years of service, Spc. Walter ranks among the best that I have had the honor to have known and worked with," Kaoiwi said. "She was young and motivated. She had initiative and produced quality work."

Spc. Lindsey Lafitaga, a close friend, said, "We had this look we'd give to each other, a wink of an eye, then bam! We'd start dancing and going crazy. We began as just friends, and became more than sisters. This road we started together, it will last forever and ever."

The Army e-mailed the comments from the memorial service. Officials described it as very emotional.

Spc. Leticia Timothy said she found comfort in the fact that Walter had shared her faith with her, and she believed Walter was now in a better place.

THREE OTHERS INJURED

Three other Hawai'i Guard soldiers were injured in the single-vehicle accident on Seventh Ring Road outside Kuwait City, officials said.

The Army said one was in stable condition in a Kuwaiti hospital, one was in stable condition at the Camp Arifjan Medical Facility, and the third was pending a return to duty.

Walter was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle on a drive from Camp Virginia to Camp Arifjan, according to officials. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Kuwait's roads are notoriously dangerous because of reckless driving by civilians, and accidents occur frequently.

Walter's family previously said they had no comment on the accident and asked for privacy. They said they were proud of their daughter's service to her country.

A memorial service on O'ahu is being planned, and funeral arrangements were still being determined, officials said.

Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony, public affairs officer for the Hawai'i National Guard, said it was the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's first fatality since deploying to the Middle East.

1,700 DEPLOYED

More than 1,700 Hawai'i National Guard and Reserve soldiers have been in Kuwait since October and November. The troops are expected back home in July.

On her MySpace page, Walter said she was born in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, raised on Guam, and has two sisters, three brothers and "two very luvin' parents."

Walter joined the Hawai'i National Guard in April 2007 and completed her basic and advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga., where she was trained as a signal support systems specialist, officials said.

She was also trained at Fort Jackson, S.C., as a human resources specialist.

Fellow soldiers said Walter had become a U.S. citizen after being called to active duty in August 2008, and spent countless hours studying for the citizenship test while completing mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas.

Walter's awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.