Army Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera

Died October 26, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

---

20, of Dunn, N.C.; assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed on patrol Oct. 26 when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.

---

Fort Bragg soldier killed in Baghdad

Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera’s aunt says her nephew believed he could make a difference in Iraq.

Guerrera, who was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed while on patrol in Baghdad, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

He was on patrol when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. A native of Dunn, Guerrera was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne.

Guerrera joined the Army in February and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in July. He deployed to Iraq in August.

“He was full of pride to represent his country,” Debbie Dunn said. “He wanted to be in the 82nd Airborne.

“He was anxious to go because he felt like he could do some good.”

Dunn said the family is grieving, but is coping because Guerrera was fighting for freedom.

“We are thankful to God that we we were able to know him for 20 years,” Dunn said. “Joseph is in a better place than we are.”

Guerrera is survived by his mother, stepfather, four brothers and a sister. Guerrera’s biological father also was in the Army. He was killed in a helicopter crash in Germany when Guerrera was 4.

Guerrera is the tenth paratrooper from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team to be killed. The team is made up of three battalions from the 325th Infantry Regiment. The unit will be one of the first to complete a year long tour in Iraq, and is expected to return to Fort Bragg in February.