Edward R. Cambra – Liautenant Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

Edward R. Cambra, 64, a Lieutenant Colonel and logistics officer who retired in 1990 from the Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base, died September 10, 2003, at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He had cancer.

Colonel Cambra, who lived in Fairfax Station, was logistics manager at U.S. Postal Service headquarters after he retired and helped reorganize warehousing methods nationwide. He was a co-founder of family real estate companies that included Blue Heron Realty in Springfield.

He was a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, and a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. He received a master’s degree in psychology and counseling at Troy State University in Alabama. He began his military career in 1963 and later served as a logistics officer in Vietnam, England and Germany. He was also an executive officer at Cameron Station in Alexandria.

His honors included a Bronze Star.

His marriage to Patricia Cambra ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Julie C. Cambra of Fairfax Station; three sons from his second marriage, Mark Cambra of Lake Ridge, Jonathan Cambra of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, and Matthew Cambra of Landau, Germany; his mother, Lucy Cambra of Fall River, Mass.; a sister; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

CAMBRA, EDWARD R., LTCOL., USAF (Ret.)

Edward R. Cambra, Lieutenant Colone, United States Air Force (retired) on Tuesday, September 9, 2003. Beloved husband of Julie C. Cambra; caring father of Mark, Jonathan and Matthew; adored grandfather of six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his mother, Lucy Cambra; and sister, Judith Chase.

Edward Cambra was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1963. He had a distinguished military career including tours of duty at Strategic Air Command Headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska and as an Executive Officer at Cameron Station, Alexandria, Virginia. Overseas assignments include a one year tour in Vietnam, where he was decorated with the Bronze Star. Further assignments including working with the Royal Air Force as an Exchange Officer at Headquarters Support Command, RAF Brampton, United Kingdom and a tour of duty at Seventh Air Division, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.

Colonel Cambra ended his military career after 27 years at HQ Systems Command, Andrews Air Force base, Maryland. After retiring from the Air Force in 1990, Edward Cambra began a second career as a Logistics Manager at the U.S. Postal Service Headquarters, L’Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC. During his postal career, he was instrumental in reorganizing many of the Postal Services logistics systems nationwide and received many Postal Service Awards until he passed away.

In addition, Edward Cambra was involved in the co-founding of Cambra Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Blue Heron Realty. Cambra & Associates, Springfield, Virginia, with his wife, Julie C. Cambra. He will be sorely missed by his family and all who knew him throughout his military, government and professional careers.

Interment with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery, date to be announced. Any floral memorials may be sent to Demaine Funeral Home or memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20010.

• CAMBRA, EDWARD R  LT COL US AIR FORCE
• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 03/26/1963 – 03/31/1990
• DATE OF BIRTH: 09/15/1938
• DATE OF DEATH: 09/09/2003
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 11/03/2003
• BURIED AT: SECTION 46  SITE 930

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard