Rhode Island Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara

Died September 1, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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40, of New Bedford, Mass.; assigned to the 115th Military Police Company, U.S. Army National Guard, Cranston, R.I.; killed Sept. 1 on Main Supply Route Tampa, south of Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Another soldier also died in the incident.

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Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara was a quiet, funny man who had a calming effect on the people he encountered in his four years as a patrol officer.

“Those are tough qualities to find,” said Lt. Richard Spirlet, spokesman for the New Bedford Police Department in Massachusetts.

Camara, 40, of New Bedford, died Sept. 1 when the Humvee he was in struck a land mine near Baghdad. He was a member of the Rhode Island National Guard.

“He was an exceptional partner,” said Officer Luis Sud-Martinez. “He had no qualms about going back and serving his duty in the military,” Sud-Martinez said. “He had put his time in and was ready to retire but he went back and he had a job to do.”

Camara is survived by his wife, Ana, and children Matthew, Angela and Ashley.

— Associated Press