Joe Roche

Joseph Roche

Photo of from 2002 of Joseph Roche during Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood.
Born 1967 (age 48–49)
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch US Army
Years of service 2002-2010
Rank E-6
Unit 16th Engineer Battalion[1]
Battles/wars

Iraq War

Awards

Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon

Combat Action Badge

Joseph Roche (born 1967) is an Iraq War veteran and conservative commentator.

Early life

Roche comes from a family of talented musicians. Roche's father, also named Joseph Roche, was a native of Madras, India who came to the United States to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston [2] Roche's mother is from West Virginia. Joseph Roche senior was a violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra from 1959–1994 and the Macalester Trio from 1969–1994;[3] his mother Sarita is a coloratura soprano; and his sister Gita is a principal cello of the Baltimore Opera and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.[4] Joe Roche grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood in Minneapolis and graduated from Minnehaha Academy and in 1998 received a degree in history from the University of Minnesota.[5]

Roche became interested in politics and the Republican Party while a teenager, organizing petition drives and focusing his efforts subjects such as prayer in school and aid for the Nicaraguan contras.[1] After graduating high school Roche moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked for seven years on conservative campaigns and issues.[1] Roche then returned to Minnesota and enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a history major.[1] In 1990 at an Independent-Republican Party meeting he submitted a resolution in support of embattled Republican Senator David Durenberger, calling charges of unethical conduct against the Senator "trumped up too much." [6] In the 1990s Roche began political commentary for the Minnesota Daily, student newspaper at the University of Minnesota. Roche was a frequent critique of liberals and the Clinton administration and an advocate for the views of the Republican Party. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Roche won the Minnesota Daily’s Harrison Salisbury Annual Achievement Award in 2005.

Military deployment

Spc. Joseph Roche of the 16th Engineer Battalion prepares to go out on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.

Roche is a self described "geek" who has long followed issues involving the Middle East.[5] He was frustrated with the way the U.S. responded to terrorism before September 11, citing the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.[5] Roche's first military experience was with the Israel Defense Forces, which he for one year of service in October 2000. Roche returned to the US in October 2001 following the September 11th terrorist attacks, stating that "When September 11 happened, I just realized I can't sit out this one." [5] In 2002 he enlisted in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq in May 2003 as a member of the Army's 16th Combat Engineer Battalion.[5] Roche was stationed in Baghdad and held the rank of specialist. His main responsibility was as a Humvee driver and gunner.[5] When President George W. Bush traveled to Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day 2003, he shook hands with Roche, who had been in Iraq since the end of May.[5] Roche had been a vocal advocate of a continued American military presence in Iraq and criticized calls in the United States for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, what they're [the guerrillas] really aiming for is to break the will of the American people.... They know they can't defeat us in Iraq. They're trying to defeat us back here at home. [5] During his tour in Iraq, Roche was once driving his Humvee 75 miles per hour when two Iraqi men waved to stop him, preventing him from driving over a roadside bomb. Roche later commented to the Star Tribune news paper that these men "saved our lives. Iraqis are sticking their necks out for us." [5]

Quoted by President Bush in 2004

Roche’s editorial “Keep the faith - we are, the Iraqi people are,” written while in the field in Iraq, was widely printed in the conservative press, read on air by Rush Limbaugh and other conservative talk show host radio. It was quoted by President George W. Bush at the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Works by Joe Roche

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dougherty, Kevin (2004-08-18). "Stripes Spotlight: A 'professor' in a class by himself". Stars and Stripes.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Ben (2007-07-29). "Joseph Roche fell in love with the violin as a kid - He joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 1959 and also played with the Macalester Trio and the Boston Pops". Star Tribune.
  3. ↑ Anthony, Michael (1994-04-24). "Roche's departure ends original Macalester Trio". Star Tribune.
  4. ↑ Anthony, Michael (1992-06-09). "Roche family celebrates Gita's, Sarita's new jobs". Star Tribune.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hotakainen, Rob (2004-01-10). "Stay or go? Iraq opinions diverge - It's a familiar debate in state, across nation". Star Tribune.
  6. ↑ McGrath, Dennis J. (1990-02-28). "Durenberger's precinct backs him - Position on abortion accounts for nays in 11-4 vote". Star Tribune.

External links

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