Courier-Post -- Airman 1st Class Carl Ware Jr. achieved his dreams -- a loving wife, an adored daughter and a long-sought position in Air Force security work.

But those dreams ended Saturday for Ware, 22, when he died in a non-combat related incident in Iraq.

"It was too soon," said Barbara Stutzbach, a Glassboro woman who, with her husband David, took in Ware in 1998. "It was way too soon."

Ware, who went to Iraq just over a month ago, helped provide security at Camp Bucca, a prison facility in southern Iraq.

The circumstances of Ware's death were not available, but the incident is under investigation, said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Leonhard, a spokesman at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Ware's home base. Some military officials have said Ware was fatally shot, according to Air Force Times.

Ware is survived by his wife of three years, Christine, and their daughter Caitlyn, who will have her first birthday this month.

"He loved being a father more than anything," said his wife, who is a senior airman at Hickam. "And he wanted to be a cop since the day I met him (in high school)."

Ware was a 2002 graduate of Smyrna High School in Smyrna, Del., where the Stutzbachs lived before moving to Glassboro that same year.

The Stutzbachs became his legal guardians to offer stability at a troubled time, said Barbara Stutzbach.

"He was our oldest son's best friend," said the mother of two sons, David and Ryan. "He was a great son. He was a great brother."

"He was doing so well," said David Stutzbach, a retired Air Force veteran. "We were so proud."

Ware joined the Air Force in 2004 and was assigned to the 15th Airlift Wing's Security Forces Squadron at Hickam.

"Right now, our efforts are focused on providing his family, squadron and friends the support and assistance they need," said Col. John Torres, 15th AW commander. "Airman Ware will be missed, but his dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Services are pending for Ware, whose body will be flown to McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County.

"Everybody loved him," said his wife. "He was a great guy."