Rangers Lead the Way
By Caroline Rainbolt-Forbes
Joshua R. Hager
June 20, 1977-February 23, 2007
Picture taken of SSG Joshua Hager. Found on Find a Grave
During Joshua Hager’s all too brief 29 years, he became an elite soldier in the United States Army while being a dedicated family man at home. He was born in Denver, Colorado on June 20, 1977. Joshua loved Colorado and had an immense appreciation for all the outdoor adventures his home state had to offer. Joshua grew up in Broomfield, CO, only a few hours away from the mountains, and his mother, Lois Knight, would often take him to the mountains, sparking Joshua’s love for Colorado.[1] He graduated from Colorado High School of Denver, a charter school, in 1995, and enlisted in the Army in 1998, the same year his son was born.[2] Through his enlistment, Joshua found a sense of pride, telling his mother that, “it would be his privilege to serve his country by leading his men into battle.”[3]
From the very beginning of his military career, it was obvious that Joshua was a shining star. After completing boot camp, he was awarded the “Iron Mike” award, also known as the Audie Murphy award.[4] The Audie Murphy award is given to the top two percent of the noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Army who demonstrate leadership and military knowledge.[5] Upon graduating from boot camp, Joshua completed paratrooper training, also known as jump school, after which he joined the storied 82nd Airborne Division.[6] The 82nd Airborne Division is an elite airborne infantry division specializing in parachute assault operations into hostile areas.[7] This division is required by U.S. Department of Defense to be prepared to respond to a crisis within 18 hours.[8] Following jump school, Hager’s career took off. He was fast-tracked for promotion having served with distinction in Korea.[9] Upon his return from Korea he was nominated to go to Ranger School.[10]
Picture taken of SSG Joshua Hager. Found on The Denver Post.
Ranger School, one of the Army’s elite leadership schools, is also one of the most grueling and rigorous. It trains soldiers to become part of an elite fighting force that is rapidly deployable, light infantry force with highly specialized skills related to combat engagement. Joshua excelled in Ranger School, and after he served as a Ranger instructor for two and a half years with the 6th RTB, Air Force Base, in Eglin, FL.[11] During his time as an instructor, he left a mark on all the soldiers who passed through, with many noting how he left a lasting impression on all. Joshua was always credited with having natural leadership skills, with one of his soldiers describing SSG Hager as “having a leadership style that immediately brought confidence,” to his soldiers.[12]
His passion for leadership and serving his country brought him back to his home state, Colorado. He elected to transfer to Fort Carson, located in Colorado Springs, to join an infantry unit as it was scheduled to deploy to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.[13] However, before he deployed, Joshua and his wife, Heather, were laying down roots in Pueblo, Colorado. The couple closed on a home the day he deployed in October 2006, having found a place to settle down with their 9-year-old son, Bayley, three horses, and two dogs.[14] Joshua wanted to show his son everything Colorado had to offer, taking Bayley fishing, biking, and hiking, for hours on end.[15] His mother said that Joshua loved being outside with his family that “he didn’t care if he only caught a minnow. He was always out there, enjoying being alive.”[16]
Staff Sergeant Hager deployed to Iraq in October 2006 with the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. On February 22, 2007 an explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations, killing SSG Hager and two other soldiers in his unit.[17] For his bravery and for making the ultimate sacrifice, SSG Hager was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.[ibid]
Buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, the legacy of Staff Sargent Joshua Hager, a hero, lives on through his son with his memory carried on by all the Rangers he helped create and influenced during his time serving his country. As the Ranger motto says, Rangers Lead the Way.
Footnotes ↓
[1] Sean McDonald, “Soldier Took Pride in Family, Military.” Denver Post, February 25, 2007. https://www.denverpost.com/2007/02/25/soldier-took-pride-in-family-military/. Update: 08 May 2016 (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
[2] Legacy.com, and Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.” Legacy.com. Denver Post, March 4, 2007. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=joshua-r-hager&pid=86672968, (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
[3] Sara Gandy, “Fallen Soldier Loved Colorado and His Country.” 9 News, February 26, 2007. https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/fallen-soldier-loved-colorado-and-his-country/73 (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
[4] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”
[5] “Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.” US Army Japan. U.S. Army Japan USARJ, n.d. https://www.usarj.army.mil/misc/samc/, (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
[6] McDonald, “Soldier Took Pride.”
[7] “General Information.” 82nd Airborne Division Museum, January 21, 2020. https://www.82ndairbornedivisionmuseum.com/general-information/, (Date Accessed, 9/1/2020).
[8] “General Information.” 82nd Airborne Division Museum.
[9] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”
[10] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”
[11] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”.
[12] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.” Legacy.com. Denver Post, March 4, 2007. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?n=joshua-r-hager&pid=86672968.Tom Sullivan comment (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
[13] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”
[14] Legacy. “Joshua Hager - Obituary.”
[15] McDonald,“Soldier Took Pride.”
[16] McDonald,“Soldier Took Pride.”
[17] “Sgt Joshua R Hager (1977-2007) - Find A Grave...” Find a Grave, n.d. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18068446/joshua-r-hager, (Date Accessed 9/1/2020).
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