An airman assigned to Hickam Air Force Base died Saturday in Iraq, the Air Force said yesterday.

Airman 1st Class Carl Jerome Ware Jr., 22, of Glassboro, N.J., died due to a "noncombat related incident" at Camp Bucca, Iraq, while assigned with the 886th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, according to the Department of Defense.

"We lost a valuable member of the Hickam Air Force Base team and our Air Force family," said Col. John Torres, commander of the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam. "Airman Ware will be missed, but his dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

"Right now, our efforts are focused on providing his family, squadron and friends the support and assistance they need."

The death is being investigated, an Air Force spokesman said. No other details were released.