PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA U.S. Army
SGT, B CO, 312TH MI BN, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, FORT HOOD, TX 76544 BAGHDAD, IRAQ 11/18/2004
Joseph Nolan, originally from Waterbury, Connecticut, was one of three children born to a devout Irish Catholic family. He played football in high school and was a voracious reader who was intensely interested in foreign cultures. Joseph began reading books on military history at 10, learning about the wars that were fought by his father (in Vietnam), grandfather (in World War II), and great-grandfather (in World War I).
Joseph moved to Philadelphia to attend to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where he also studied Japanese.
He had an unquenchable curiosity about the world, which sometimes made him seem older than he was. But Joseph-Joey-was also known for his great sense of humor, albeit at times politically incorrect. He was always fun to be around and was sought out for his company wherever he went.
Given his family’s history, it was no surprise when Joseph decided to pursue the Army. Joseph was fluent in Arabic after an intensive Army language program in Monterey, California.
He then went to Iraq. Matt, his brother, said he was “doing this to get his feet wet for later in life” and didn’t plan on “being a career military guy.” Matt was the last to speak to Joseph (a Sergeant) before his vehicle was hit by an explosive device in Fallujah, Iraq. Joey was working as a military intelligence expert.