Army Specialist Joshua Isaac Bunch, 23, Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin), was killed Friday, August 6, 2004, when individuals using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades attacked his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Bunch was assigned to Company B, 91st Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, based out of Fort Hood, Texas. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs notes that Jushua Bunch was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Decembr 22, 1980. 
    
    The Web site iraq.pigstye.net using information from the Clarion Ledger out of Jackson, Mississippi, states that Joshua Bunch graduated from North Forrest High School, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1999. Bunch had enlisted in the Army in 2001, had served a good portion of his time in Alaska, and was a combat engineer with his unit in Iraq. Specialist Bunch had been in Iraq just five weeks at the time of his death. He became the 15th Mississippian killed in the Iraq war. The Web site article went on to say Joshua loved karate, water-skiing, fishing, snowboarding, and skydiving.

    At the time of his death Specialist Joshua Bunch was survived by his adopted father Bill Bunch, his mother Karen Bunch; his sister Sarah Lee, his brother-in-law Sergeant Joe Lee; and, his nephew Joey Lee; his sister Michelle Carden; and, his brother Bill Bunch. Specialist Bunch postumously received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He was laid to rest at Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Information for this short biography about Army Specialist Joshua Isaac Bunch was pieced together from the following sources: iraq.pigstye.net, Clarion Ledger, "SPC Joshua Bunch"; militarytimes.com, Associated Press, "Army Spc. Justin W. Linden"; findagrave.com, "Spec Justin Wayne Linden," posted July 17, 2004; Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs "Fallen Heroes Page"; and, CNN.com "War Casualties Page."