by Ronna Sweeney, KUAM News Saturday, April 05, 2008 E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

A son of Guam, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Duenas Gamboa has returned home for the last time. The 34-year-old fallen soldier received to a hero's welcome at the airport just after 6pm last night. Governor Felix Camacho said of the late serviceman, "He is a man of duty whose call to serve became his ultimate sacrifice. The people of Guam and generations to come are indebted to SSG Gamboa."

Gamboa's sister had confirmed with KUAM News that he had been heading back to his post in Iraq last week when another car passed by and shot a missile into the soldier's vehicle. Commenting on Gamboa's return, Lieutenant Governor Mike Cruz said he knows what it's like to serve on the frontlines. "He's paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that as Americans we continue to have the freedom that we enjoy. And so we thank him and his family and our thoughts and prayers are with him," said Cruz.