Sgt. Madden grew up in Sibley, La., and graduated from Minden High School in 2003 where he received the Drama Award, and Who's Who Among American High School Students as well as the American Legion Award. He founded the Honor Guard at Minden High School which served as the color guard for special progams at the school. He was a member of the Minden High School Crimson Chorus and performed in their production of "Grease", and "Hello, Dolly" as well as many others. He danced as Gene Kelly for area nursing homes and ran the sound system for many productions. He performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the Crimson Chorus. He would bring his dress uniform home on leave and present the flag at memorial programs at his home church Springhill Baptist in Ringgold, LA. He joined the Civil Air Patrol at Barksdale Air Force Base during high school; he said he just wanted to help people because he knew that they were involved in search and rescue. He traveled to Arkansas and to South Louisiana on field trips with this group. He went through ground school in Shreveport and flew his first and last flight. He was greatly affected by the events of 911 and decided early in high school to join the military. He enlisted in the United States Army right after graduation and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and completed javelin training there. He served his first tour of duty at Kirkuk, Iraq in 2004 and returned to Hawaii in 2005. Upon his arrival in Hawaii, he had a tattoo made around his arm of the cross of Christ and the crown of thorns. He received Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina this spring. Josh married his childhood sweetheart Aimee Danielle (Dani) Smock on October 5, 2005 at the Old Soldiers Chapel in Hawaii and became the happiest man on earth. He was deployed to Kirkuk for his second tour in early August. Their son, Jaxon, was born on September 1, 2006 in Shreveport. He loved his son from the moment he heard Jaxon was on the way, but had only two weeks to spend as a father with him. He did everything for him and was so proud to finally be a father. He has earned the Combat Infantry Badge award, the Overseas Ribbon, The Army Service Ribbon, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal-2nd award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He had recently returned home on leave, had been back in Iraq less than a week. He left on August 4 and his son was born September 1 and he was granted leave and returned home on November 15 to meet him and spend an early Christmas with his wife and family. Josh loved his parents, admired and respected them. His father and mother gave him an Irish ring for his birthday while he was in high school. He loved that ring and refused to take it off even by the military. He told them that his parents had given him that ring and that was all he had to remind him of home and he would not take it off no matter what the retribution was. The ring was found and was returned to the family. He was the baby of the family and doted on by his brothers and sister. He adored his nieces and nephew and tried to be a good example to them. He was a comedian and loved to make people laugh. He was always doing comedy acts, loved to scare kids at Halloween, and would jump off his house into the pool. We all loved to hear Josh and Aaron tell stories about their many adventures around Sibley. He returned to Iraq December 1. Josh died doing what he loved, serving the United States and defending his country, his home, and his family. He was 21.

Army
2nd Battalion,
27th Infantry,
3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division,
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.