Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend, 30, of Solvang, California. He was a 1997 Santa Ynez Valley Union High School graduate. Josh was quite the prankster growing up and this continued even as he was an adult. He had the unique bond that is between twins with his twin brother, Jordan. Josh attended Santa Barbara City College and Hancock Community College afterwards and enlisted in the Army in August 2003 as a Special Forces trainee. After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C. in January 2004 for Special Forces training. He earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2005 and was assigned to 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. His military education includes; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. He deployed to Afghanistan on his second tour of duty there in May 2008, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg , N.C. Joshua died from a non-battle death incident at U.S. military Fire Base Ripley. He is survived by his wife, Rachel, of Spring Lake, N.C.; mother Linda Townsend, of San Jose, Calif.; father, Daniel, and his twin brother, Jordan, of Solvang.
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend, 30, of Solvang, California. He was a 1997 Santa Ynez Valley Union High School graduate. Josh was quite the prankster growing up and this continued even as he was an adult. He had the unique bond that is between twins with his twin brother, Jordan. Josh attended Santa Barbara City College and Hancock Community College afterwards and enlisted in the Army in August 2003 as a Special Forces trainee. After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C. in January 2004 for Special Forces training. He earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2005 and was assigned to 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. His military education includes; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. He deployed to Afghanistan on his second tour of duty there in May 2008, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg , N.C. Joshua died from a non-battle death incident at U.S. military Fire Base Ripley. He is survived by his wife, Rachel, of Spring Lake, N.C.; mother Linda Townsend, of San Jose, Calif.; father, Daniel, and his twin brother, Jordan, of Solvang.
