Sgt. Joseph E. Proctor

Indiana Army National Guard’s Sgt. Joseph E. Proctor
Sgt. Proctor, an aviation fueler, volunteered for a dangerous assignment as an embedded trainer to a group of Iraqi soldiers that routinely patrolled a violent section of the Anbar province. On May 3, 2006, Proctor was manning an isolated post in a barracks building near Ramadi when he heard shots outside. Hearing the commotion, Proctor threw on his protective gear, grabbed a weapon and left the secure location to go assess the situation outside. Immediately, insurgents began firing heavily upon the compound while a large dump truck laden with explosives broke through the gate and headed toward the barracks. Proctor stood his ground and fired into the cab of the truck, eventually killing the driver. The explosives detonated, severely injuring Proctor. Because of his quick and fearless actions, the truck did not penetrate the compound deeply, and no one else was hurt. Proctor died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the attack. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star on Dec. 20, 2006, making him the first Indiana National Guardsmen to receive the Silver Star since the Vietnam War. Camp Attebury