Army Specialist Joshua M. Pearce

Remember Our Heroes

Army Specialist Joshua M. Pearce, 21, of Guymon, Oklahoma

Spc Pearce was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; killed Feb. 26 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker military vehicle during patrol operations in Mosul, Iraq.

Pearce’s loss felt throughout unit

Story, photo by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
138th MPAD

MOSUL, Iraq — Soldiers of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, honored Spc. Joshua Pearce at a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq, March 3.

Pearce was killed Feb. 26 during combat operations when the Stryker Combat Vehicle he was in was hit by an improvised explosive device.

“I don’t know if I will ever get used to you being gone,” said Spc. Richard Napier, B Co., 2-1. “I’m going to miss you. I’ll never forget you.”

Pearce was born Nov. 23, 1984, and enlisted in the Army in November 2003.

Pearce was deployed to Iraq in August 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“Spc. Pearce was a patriot and a true American that in his heart knew what this county stood for,” said Lt. Col. Charles Webster, Task Force 2-1 commander. “What his country gave to the world was worth fighting for.”

Spc. Daniel Castillo, B Co., 2-1, said, “I never had a really true friend. I never experienced love so strong that I would cry every day and be grateful every day. I was happy in Iraq because of Pearce, and he made it feel like home.”

“It was a privilege to share over two and a half years of memory with you Josh. I just wish we could share more,” said Sgt. William Pearson, 2-1. “The memories I have will carry with me forever, and I will cherish each one.”

A letter Pearce wrote was printed in his hometown newspaper and it ended in a quote from President Kennedy; he said it was his favorite.

He wrote, “There are three things which are real: God, human folly and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension so we must do what we can with the third.”

Army Specialist Joshua M. Pearce was killed in action on 02/26/06.