Christopher Camero was born in the Philippines and moved to the Big Island at the age of five.  He grew up in Waimea.  He came from a military family, and as a young boy he was always saluting, according to relatives. 

As a teen, he enjoyed cooking and fishing.  He always went fishing with his father whenever he had time.  At Honokaa High School, he loved sports; he played football, enjoyed judo, and was on the wrestling team. Chris graduated in 2010; he looked forward to joining the Marine Corps and had used physical fitness classes to help him prepare. 

Honokaa High and Intermediate School teacher Daphne Honma, who had Camero as a student his senior year, said Camero was a "very respectful kid. He was a good student, and he was always smiling. He had a good personality," Honma said. Becoming a Marine "was one of his goals when he came into class his senior year," Honma said. "He had talked to a recruiter, and he was really excited."

A friend who attended boot camp with Camero wrote on his web site: "His lifelong goal was to become a Marine, and his childhood dream came true. "I will never forget you or any of the stunts we pulled."

He enlisted in the Marine Corps, June 7, 2010.  Camero was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California.  A Lance Corporal, he was serving his first combat deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom. Camero had complained about being stuck on post, and a "reality check! Just got shot at today! Not the best feeling a guy can get in the morning."

On July 6th, His unit of about 1,000 Marines were on patrol in Nahr-e-saraj district south of Sangin, where some of the heaviest recent fighting has occurred, and north of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province. He was wounded by a homemade bomb while conducting combat operations and died from his wounds on July 12, 2011, at the age of 19.

His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Chris is survived by parents Carlos and Norma; his sister Sarrah Jane; and grandmothers, Lucia Labiano and Lapaz Camero.