Sgt Joseph D. Hunt, age 27, of Sweetwater, TN joined the TN National guard in 2001. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, Sparta, TN. Joey received extensive training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and furthered his training at Ft Irving National Training Center in California. A group of Monroe County, TN boys, labeled the forgotten forty, were deployed to the war in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
Joey was a member of K Troop, 1st BN 128th Infantry and was stationed at FOB O’ryan in Iraq. Joey was KIA on August 22, 2005, in Samarra, Iraq, while conducting patrol operations. An improvised explosive device detonated near his humvee. Joey was the father of two boys, brother of 2 sisters, and son of loving parents. He is forever missed but NEVER FORGOTTEN.