SGT William Joshua Rechenmacher served as an imagery analyst with 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Hood, Texas.
Josh’s love for the military was evident from a young age. A proud graduate of Forrest High School, he joined the U.S. Army at just 17 years old. During his seven years of dedicated service, he rose to the rank of specialist and volunteered for a second tour in Iraq.
Known affectionately as “Rech” to his fellow soldiers, Josh was a stalwart comrade to his teammates. He brought his cheerful spirit and ready smile to the office, despite the challenges of working in a combat zone. Rech volunteered to serve as a truck gunner on vehicle patrols, relishing the opportunity to take an active role supporting combat operations. He gave his life during one of these patrols on January 18th, 2007 when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. The Army awarded him the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in recognition of his heroism and sacrifice, and posthumously promoted him to Sergeant.
Josh is dearly missed by his friends and family.
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