10-25-2015, 09:51 PM
If you haven't heard, we lost a good man this week in a hostage rescue mission in Northern Iraq. His name was Joshua Wheeler, and had spent over 20 years in the service.
![[Image: e89ffdd726ba4d4e8a6fb0dd4ec9fd75-e89ffdd...fd75-0.jpg]](https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_371w/Boston/2011-2020/2015/10/23/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/e89ffdd726ba4d4e8a6fb0dd4ec9fd75-e89ffdd726ba4d4e8a6fb0dd4ec9fd75-0.jpg)
Wheeler and I were on the same Recon Team in the 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, in 1-24 Infantry Scouts back in 1997. He was a Ranger qualified SP4 at the time, and really wanted to be in Ranger Battalion, which he eventually was able to fulfill, serving in several leadership positions on multiple deployments before going to selection.
His personality was always positive, very outgoing, so willing to do anything for his friends and the unit. I'm not just saying that because he passed on. He was a very genuine guy, had a warm smile, got along with everyone.
I have actually thought of him often during times in my life when faced with certain situations. He never spoke ill of anyone behind their back.
He had 11 Bronze Stars, 4 with "V" devices for Valor. He left behind a wife and 4 kids. His DA Photo looks almost nothing like the kid I knew, but that's typical of a 20+ year career in Infantry, Ranger, and Special Operations units.
He was a good dude and will be missed.
He gave his life that others might live....
![[Image: 9086470_G.jpg]](http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/9086470_G.jpg)
Wheeler and I were on the same Recon Team in the 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, in 1-24 Infantry Scouts back in 1997. He was a Ranger qualified SP4 at the time, and really wanted to be in Ranger Battalion, which he eventually was able to fulfill, serving in several leadership positions on multiple deployments before going to selection.
His personality was always positive, very outgoing, so willing to do anything for his friends and the unit. I'm not just saying that because he passed on. He was a very genuine guy, had a warm smile, got along with everyone.
I have actually thought of him often during times in my life when faced with certain situations. He never spoke ill of anyone behind their back.
He had 11 Bronze Stars, 4 with "V" devices for Valor. He left behind a wife and 4 kids. His DA Photo looks almost nothing like the kid I knew, but that's typical of a 20+ year career in Infantry, Ranger, and Special Operations units.
He was a good dude and will be missed.
He gave his life that others might live....
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com