Josh's Stuff (original) (raw)

For Joshua
On July 4, 2004, my friends and I were riding around trying to find a parking spot in a red Ford Focus with signs taped up in all the windows and on the bumper stating, "We Love America," "Happy Fourth of July," "This is for Joshua and our troops in Iraq" and "Drink up for our boys deployed." We were blasting our favorite patriotic song CD that we burnt with songs including "God Bless the USA," "Only in America," "American Girls and American Guys," Toby Keith's "American Soldier," "Have You Forgotten" and "I'm Already There" by Lonestar. I cannot really pinpoint one song in particular, but the one song that has been a favorite is "American Soldier." That song really defines my brother Joshua Justice Henry.

My brother Joshua Justice Henry entered into the Army soon after he graduated from high school in 2002. This was one of the hardest things to do. Mind you, a little sister with two little brothers always needs their big brother to look up to and learn more from. Joshua was always involved in everything from the time he was in wrestling, archery, hunting, baseball and football. In high school, Joshua played baseball, track and football -- starting as the No.1 center -- No. 65 forever. We grew up in a small town. If you didn't know everyone, you knew their cousin. But Joshua knew practically everyone -- and had an impact on more than half.

In entering the Army, Joshua did his basic training in Fort Sill Oklahoma, then was based out of Schweinfurt, Germany. Joshua went to sniper school and could shoot better than everyone in Batter A of the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery. BIG RED ONE. In 2003, Joshua was deployed to Kosovo, earning several medallions of valor. Joshua got to come back and visit on his R&R on Christmas and New Year's, luckily. In February of 2004, Joshua was deployed to Iraq. He was in artillery and then switched to infantry. Joshua was always dedicated to his Brothers in Uniform. He never wanted to be separated from them. If they were going to re-enlist, he was going to re-enlist. If they went somewhere, he wanted to be right there protecting each other. Ever since he was in middle school, Joshua's favorite thing was to work out in the gym. Joshua dedicated himself. Not only to his life, kids, work, friends and family. Every younger cousin, niece or nephew attached themselves to his hip, as well as neighbors or any little kids. Aaron Schofield, a Brother in Uniform, said the children in Iraq drew themselves to Joshua like magnets.

After leaving the Army in a highly anticipated month, October '05, Joshua wanted to play football once again and also attend Geneva College to obtain his dream job of being an elementary teacher. "American Soldier" describes all American soldiers, but everyone puts a different spin on it for their loved one(s). Joshua always did his duty and didn't care what the sacrifice. Besides myself and our two little brothers Jerrad and Julian, he took the stand and always stood up for us.

Joshua had so many friends and kept in touch with everyone. I wrote him as much as I could. Every week, a letter or two went out. When he was in Iraq, I wrote every day for a few months. The day he left for Iraq, he came to my apartment before he went to the airport. We hugged and cried and laughed, then cried for 20 minutes. He said, "Bye, Jazbo, I'll write when I can and I will see you soon. I love you." I told him, "It's never goodbye or bye. It's always 'Later.' I love you, Joshua." He left, and I got a few phone calls and e-mails. There was a while that he got on AOL at 5 p.m. our time, just as I was getting out of my internship, but I waited and talked. It was always so great to just know that he was at the other end of a keyboard. Sept.11, I got to talk to him, and he hadn't written snail mail. He said he'd get one in the mail that day. We talked, and I told him how busy I'd been and how the weather was lovely, and I told him my oath not to complain because I knew the soldiers had it worse, and he was so proud. I had gotten a new roommate and I didn't like her, and he told me to stop being picky. He taught me so much in just so short of a phone call. He said we will hang out when he gets home, and he couldn't wait to hang out with his little sissy. He was always so inspiring and put so many tears in my eyes just to hear his voice.

A week later or so, on Sept. 20, 2004, I was at my internship 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time, like any other "normal" Monday, listening to my patriotic CD, doing Bell helicopter e-mails. After my internship, I went to work 7 p.m. --11 p.m. and on my break at nine. I was on my break getting a drink, and my friend came running in and told me I had an emergency at home. I didn't know what to think at first. I thought it was my father and then my little brother Jerrad because he works at a gas station. He told me Joshua, and I went crazy. I could and still to this day can never imagine.

For Joshua, the day began like any other, with his platoon getting up early to escort the battery's executive officer to Ash Sharqat for a city council meeting. The convoy included six humvees. The 40-mile drive from Summerall to Ash Sharqat took more than an hour. The soldiers stood guard at the meeting until it ended. A few minutes after the meeting ended, heading back to Summerall, they were in the village of Huni. They soldiers heard gunfire, so they stopped, and the soldiers got in their battle positions. Mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and fall bullets started coming from the enemies. The whole platoon manned its guns and returned fire. Joshua was in the second vehicle, and the enemies moved behind him. A shot knocked Jason, his Brother in Uniform, down, and he seen that Joshua was hit in the side, passing through him. Jason said he jerked up and said something and Joshua kept firing. Two more bullets hit Joshua in the legs, knocking him down. Jason screamed for the medic and took Joshua to the hospital. They declared the first bullet collapsed Joshua's lung and ruptured his spleen and hit his spine. They stuck a needle in Joshua's chest to try to help him breathe. Kyle Hledinsky of Ellwood City, Pa., and Aaron Schofield of Moline, Ill., held pressure on the side wound while Shane Squires of Virginia held a patch to his leg. A medic helicopter took Joshua to the hospital in Tikrit. Joshua lost too much blood and didn't make it.

"He bared that cross with Honor cause freedom don't come free." And that part of the song describes him the best.

Note:
Chely Wright's video, "The Bumper of My S.U.V." is dedicated to Joshua Justice Henry.

Chely had a concert for the troops in Camp Summerall, Iraq, on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004. At the end of the show, Joshua asked for her to take a picture with him, and he didn't think that his camera worked. So he went through the line again. In conversation, Chely mentioned her mother's maiden name is the same as his. Joshua was kidding and said, "So I guess we're probably related somehow and can't get married!!" Chely had performed the song "The Bumper of My S.U.V." for the troops, and Joshua was very insistent that she record the song. Also, Chely's drummer was from Butler, Pa., an area not too far from Apollo. They just discussed what a small world it really is, and he enjoyed his time meeting with her. Joshua was killed in combat the day after the concert.