Joshua R. Whitaker, 23

Army, Staff Sergeant

Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.

1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: May 15, 2007

Qalat, Afghanistan

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Long Beach

High School: Millikan Senior High (Long Beach)

Burial: Artesia Cemetery, Cerritos

When his convoy was ambushed by Taliban fighters, Whitaker manned a .50-caliber turret gun, killing five militants and saving nine fellow soldiers. He was mortally wounded by a shot to the underarm that struck behind his protective vest.

Victor M. Fontanilla, 05/17/2007

Rhys W. Klasno, 05/13/2007

Eight memories of Joshua R. Whitaker

“

Josh was like my second son when he was a young teen. My son, Mike and Josh were best friends back then and Mike looked on Josh as his Big Brother and Protector. Mike was 9, Josh was 14 when Josh lived on our street. I never worried where they went or who they would run across, as long as Josh was there. Mikey considered himself Josh's little brother. We had many fun times in the backyard at family BBQ's, Mike spending the night at Josh's house, both of them pulling pranks at my cousin Claudia's house on Ryann, Mike's sister. Josh and Mike playing hockey in the street (Josh's mom always was goalie). Josh went everywhere on those skates. I don't think I ever saw him off skates for four years straight. My son idolized Josh. He still does. Our hearts were broken when we heard the news. He will always be in our hearts and thoughts. Josh's heart was huge, his presence took over the whole room when he entered. We will always and forever love our friend Joshua R. Whitaker.

The MacGillivray Family, Jan, Steve, Mike and Ryann

” — Jan Foster, November 4, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.

“

Josh was my 'battle buddy' in Basic and Advanced Infantry Training. We went to Airborne school and a big part of the Q-Course together. I was terribly saddened to hear he was Killed in Action and lamented the fact that over a year had passed before the news reached me. I'll never forget the time he fell off an obstacle at Fort Bragg and hit every piece of timber in the area on the way down. He had blood coming out of his ears but refused to quit. Cadre had to force him to accept medical attention. I'll never forget how bad his feet stank, either...
I hope Josh's Mother has been able to find some solace in Josh's sacrifice. I think of Josh whenever I hear Pericles' Funeral Oration:

“And if a test of worth be wanted, it is to be found in their closing scene... For there is justice in the claim that steadfastness in his country's battles should be as a cloak to cover a man's other imperfections; since the good action has blotted out the bad, and his merit as a citizen more than outweighed his demerits as an individual. But none of these allowed either wealth with its prospect of future enjoyment to unnerve his spirit, or poverty with its hope of a day of freedom and riches to tempt him to shrink from danger. No, holding that vengeance upon their enemies was more to be desired than any personal blessings, and reckoning this to be the most glorious of hazards, they joyfully determined to accept the risk, to make sure of their vengeance, and to let their wishes wait; and while committing to hope the uncertainty of final success, in the business before them they thought fit to act boldly and trust in themselves. Thus choosing to die resisting, rather than to live submitting, they fled only from dishonour, but met danger face to face, and after one brief moment, while at the summit of their fortune, escaped, not from their fear, but from their glory.”
"So died these men... You, their survivors, must determine to have as unfaltering a resolution in the field, though you may pray that it may have a happier issue. And not contented with ideas derived only from words of the advantages which are bound up with the defence of your country… you must reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty, and a keen feeling of honour in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valour, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution that they could offer.”

SAH
DOL

” — Brian Watson, June 23, 2014 at 8:29 a.m.

“

My mother was recently buried there and so I had the rest of the day to also visit many other sites and saw Joshua's. He didn't die in vain. I didn't know him but he gave his life in the struggle against oppression and he was at the same time defending our homeland. War and death are never hoped for but brave young people like Joshua commit to service and duty and unfortunately make the ultimate sacrifice against those in the world who desires to subjugated others.

Thank you Joshua for protecting my family and all of us here at home from those abroad who wish us harm. And thank you Cathy Whitaker for raising an honorable young man. May he Rest In Peace until the coming of our Lord and may you have hope and confidence in his salvation. May GOD be with you and comfort you in the memory of a love lost.

John 15:13. There is no greater gift than to sacrifice ones life for his fellow man

” — Patricio, May 16, 2017 at 12:08 p.m.

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Joshua R. Whitaker, 23

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Eight memories of Joshua R. Whitaker

Share a memory of Joshua