Joseph was nominated by Amber Hamric:
My father in law served in the army during the Vietnam War, where he lost his right eye. He was a 60 gunner aboard a personnel carrier when they were hit with an RPG. He had shrapnel insert every part of his body and only left behind his right eye and a pinky. When he was flown home to receive care, he was literally spit on by the American people. His mom came to see him in the hospital where he spent a year and a half in recovery. She told him about the little boy with no shoes, “he really thought he had it bad until he met a boy with no feet.” She put things into perspective for him and never wanted anyone to feel sorry for him. He still lives by that saying today. He’s been through a lot; an RPG, his service monkey attacked him twice 11 years ago, last year he had two heart attacks. Yet he’ll never tell you he’s doing bad. He has 5 grandchildren that have him wrapped around their finger and they keep him young. He is the kindest and most giving man I know. You need the shirt off his back? He’ll give you that, the change in his pocket and the last crumb in his cabinet. He’s always putting others before his self. He fought for our country proudly and with honor. He received the Purple Heart 50 years ago and I’m nominating him today because I want him to know that he’s not forgotten. And because you can’t keep a hero down, no matter what life throws at him, he gets back up.