LEBANON, IN, USA U.S. Army SPC, COMPANY D, 3D BN, 509TH INF, 4 BCT, (25 ID), FORT RICHARDSON, AK BAGHDAD, IRAQ 12/26/2006
Army Specialist Joseph A. Strong was died on December 26, 2006 of injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover accident in Baghdad. Specialist Strong was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska;
On December 26, Joey Strong became Boone County’s first soldier to die in Iraq when his Humvee overturned in a ditch about 50 miles south of Baghdad. A 2003 Western Boone graduate, Joseph joined the Army in January 2005. He enlisted as an Infantryman and went through Airborne training to get his Jump Wings. He was assigned to Fort Richardson in June 2005 and deployed to Iraq in October 2006. Joey had always wanted to be in the military. He played with soldiers and army med figures as a kid. Joey’s dad was Air Force. His uncle was Navy and his grandpa was Army. He wanted to serve his country like his father, uncle and grandfather—and he did just that.
In September the family saw their son who was stationed in Alaska. It was the last time they saw Joey. Within a month he was in Iraq serving as an infantry and sharpshooter. Joey had spoken with his family several weeks before his death. Among other things, Joey wanted to know how the Colts were playing. He promised to call again the day after Christmas. That phone call never came.