Joshua John Kirk was born on 19 July 1979 in Thomaston, ME, the son of John and Bernadette Kirk. The family moved to Idaho when he was 5 and he moved to the Rockland, Maine area while in his late teens, where he graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School. He then went to work with his father in the construction business. In the fall of 2004, he attended Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, where he was enrolled in the Construction Technology Program. That is where he met his future wife, Megan Gavin.

In May 2005, Joshua fulfilled a dream that he had since he was a young boy and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served two tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, with the 4th Infantry Division based out of Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO. The first deployment was for 15 months and his second deployment began in May 2009.

On 3 October 2009, Joshua was serving as a Sergeant with Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Destroyer, in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. On that day, SGT Kirk's actions in the defense of Combat Outpost Keating helped prevent it from falling into the hands of an attacking Taliban force of more than 400 fighters. He died of wounds sustained during the battle.

Family

Josh was a devoted husband to his wife of four years, Megan, and a devoted father to their 2-year old daughter, Kensington. The family was living in Colorado Springs at the time of his death.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal (2 Awards)
Combat Action Badge