Fort Bragg engineers honor fallen paratrooper

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Soldiers, family and friends gathered to honor the life of fallen paratrooper Spc. Akeem A. Cameron, 22, a combat engineer assigned to 57th Sapper Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Airborne) on October 1, 2019 at All American Chapel, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Cameron was born in Manchester Parish, Mandeville, Jamaica. Cameron and his family relocated to Brooklyn, New York, where he graduated high school in 2015 before enlisting in the Army in January 2017. His friends and teammates described him as down to earth with a great sense of humor.

"Cameron made light of every situation. He was always dancing or laughing," said Spc. Eric Garcia, a combat engineer assigned to 57th SC. Garcia and Cameron were teammates at the company for over a year. "He was a very free spirited person," Garcia said of his fallen comrade. "He brightened everyone's day. His presence will be missed."

At the time of his passing, Cameron was attending advanced individual training in Texas to pursue a new opportunity in his military career as a combat medical specialist.

"Cameron immediately impressed me with his passion to constantly improve himself, demonstrated by his pursuit in a new occupation," said Cpt. Patrick Lupfer, company commander of the 57th SC. "He was an exemplary paratrooper, leader and mentor who genuinely cared about those he served with. His optimistic and joyful personality undoubtedly made our company better."

Cameron completed 10 static parachute jumps and conducted operations during one Joint Readiness Training Center rotation at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Cameron passed away in an accident September 14, 2019 while in Texas.

He was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, among other awards and decorations. He leaves behind his wife Mishonda Cameron, father Albert and mother Karlene.