 
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.
Read article honoring Joseph
Proctor | 
