Joseph Rademacher (soldier)

Rademacher joined the Army on February 6, 2003. He completed infantry basic training, advanced individual training, and airborne school in June 2003. In mid-July 2003, Joseph Rademacher arrived to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division with his older brother Isaac. He was selected to serve in the Battalion Scout Sniper section upon arrival to the unit. Six weeks later, Joe deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in early September 2003, and completed a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following the deployment with Isaac Rademacher, he returned to Fort Bragg and graduated from Ranger School in September 2004. Two weeks later, Joe attended and graduated from the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course. In January 2005, Joe attended US Army Sniper School and graduated Top Gun (Highest Marksmanship) of his class. In the summer of 2005, he graduated the Static Line Jumpmaster course at Fort Bragg.

In the winter of 2005-2006, Joseph Rademacher deployed to Iraq again with 1-504th PIR for a five-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In August 0f 2006, Joe transferred units to the 82nd Airborne Division Long Range Surveillance Detachment. There, he deployed a third time in January 2007 to Afghanistan and completed a 15-month deployment.

Rademacher has completed two combat tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one combat tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[3]

• Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster).