Hometown: Austin, Texas, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: July 17, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 401st Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near their vehicle.
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Ron J. Joshua Jr.
PFC. Ron J. Joshua Jr. "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid; nor be dismayed; for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 In honor of a fallen hero, PFC. Ron J. Joshua Jr., who died for his country in Baghdad, Iraq on July 17, 2007. A beloved son, grandson, brother and cousin of many, who will truly be missed; yet not forgotten. Ron served his country for only a short time yet he served his country with great pride in the footsteps of his father, Master Sergeant Ron J. Joshua Sr. Although Ron spent his life traveling all over the world with his military family, he considered Austin to be his home. As a graduate in 2006 of Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Ron had entered into the delayed entry program for the U.S. Army knowing that he would be serving his country one day in Iraq. His strength and courage reminds us daily of the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. Ron enjoyed many things in life including football, weightlifting, music, dancing and even learning to play the piano. His smile would light up any room and his silent presence would make you want to be around him. He was funny and loved to play jokes on his sister and cousins. Always a kid at heart, Ron was always up for a challenge or dare; he kept the spice in our lives. Ron had the privilege of using the internet while in Iraq and was able to communicate with his loving girlfriend, Michelle Pilent, who kept his spirits up and his heart warm during the most trying time of his life. She was his angel. Ron was preceded in death by his loving paternal great-grandparents Clarence and Marion Joshua and his maternal great-grandparents Joseph and Olive Dunkerley. Ron is survived by his father, Master Sergeant Ron J. Joshua Sr.; his mother, Ursula A. Joshua; step-mother, Rachel Joshua and her parents Randy and Denise Seifferlein; paternal grandparents, Brenda and John Lawson; maternal grandmother, Katherine Drew; adopted grandparents Joyce Matney and Bill Offutt; godfather/uncle, David Joshua Sr.; godmother/aunt, Warrine Lightfoot; sisters, Brittany Joshua and Krashona Broden; great-aunt, Lorraine Taylor; uncles, Damion Stewart, Brian Whittington, and Bruce Drew; aunts, Stacy Whittington, Rochelle Stewart, Ana Joshua, Tamara Phillips, Dawn Drew and Jennifer Drew; cousins, Denita and Tabius Anderson, Pvt. Christopher Crider, Kirsten Crider, Danielle Drew, Kristiana Drew, Joshua Ballard, Timothy Drew, Briannah Drew, Brooke Drew, Rashawn and Troyelle Stewart, Mia and David Joshua Jr., Cameron and D'Ryan Whittington, Theo and Thorn Taylor and loving friend Naivi Garcia and many more friends and relatives.
Published by the Austin American-Statesman July 20, 2007
For a complete listing of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit this link: The Washington Post
