Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii
LCpl Camero was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died July 15, 2011 of wounds suffered July 6 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.
The 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines had replaced a battalion landing team temporarily assigned to the area while U.S. Marines moved into violent opium poppy-growing regions of northern Helmand.
In June, Taliban insurgents increased attacks against coalition forces in northern Helmand, in an apparent bid to regain lost territory. Lcpl Camero is the third Marine from the battalion killed since June.
Lcpl Camero is the first Big Island soldier to die as a result of the war in Afghanistan.
Lcpl Camero graduated from Honokaa High School in 2010. He always wanted to be a Marine and joined after graduating high school in June. This was his first deployment.
Lcpl Camero came from a military family. In the Philippines, his father was a soldier for 20 years. His mother's brothers were also in the military. When he was a young boy, Camero was always saluting.
Lcpl Camero chronicled his deployment to Afghanistan on his Facebook page, posting photos of himself on a plane heading for Germany, then Kyrgyzstan, arriving in Afghanistan on 12th April.
According to friends, Lcpl Camero had stepped on a homemade bomb while on a patrol, his legs had to be amputated and that he had been on life support since being wounded. He died nine days later.
His aunt, Florida Ballio, said Camero emigrated from the Philippines at about age five and grew up in Waimea, where he enjoyed to cook, fish and play football, judo and wrestling.
"He always goes fishing with his father whenever he gets time," said Ballio.
"I'm really trying to cope with it. He's a very, very good boy. Very active."
A friend who attended boot camp with Camero wrote on his website "His lifelong goal was to become a Marine, and his childhood dream came true. On July 6th, I heard you were hit bad by an IED and I prayed for you. I will never forget you or any of the stunts we pulled."
July 24, 2011
Camero Family: My son,Brock,is a tow gunner with CATT BLUE Weapons Co. He was with your son Christopher on July 4th. I talked to my son yesterday. Lance Cpl Camero was one tough Marine. Our family grieves with you. LCpl Camero will always be remembered in our house in Danville, CA. God bless you all. Mark Marcotte ~ Danville
Lcpl Camero's awards and decorations include:
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Lcpl Camero is survived by his parents, Norma and Carlos; sister, Sarrah and aunt Florida
Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero was killed in action on 7/15/11.
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