Staff Sergeant Joseph Hunt served in the U.S. Army, originally assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. He deployed to Vietnam with MACV in January 1965. Then again with 173rd Airborne Division in June 1966. While on a search and destroy mission, Operation Aurora II, his helicopter crashed killing everyone on board.

Joe Hunt was a patient, caring, and compassionate man. He always looked for the best in people and believed in fairness. While he loved his country, he loved his men and his wife and daughter more. He had a very dry sense of humor and was always the voice of reason in many situations. While the army was his chosen career, he loved the land and working it with his father-in-law more.

“From my Daddy, I learned the strength of personal conviction, as well as the power of professional commitment. He believed strongly in everything he did. I am blessed and honored to be his daughter, his legacy. Joseph Hunt was a great man, a good husband, a phenomenal father, a dedicated soldier, a patriot, and will forever be my hero,” recalled daughter Suzy Hunt.