Spc Farris was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. He was the topside gunner on a vehicle that was hit by a roadside bomb. Farris was on his second tour in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, which is spearheading the U.S. military's thrust into Taliban-controlled parts of the country. Even as a child, Josh was a bundle of energy and whose hilarious impressions made people laugh. He was fun-loving, energetic and couldn't sit still. In 2005, he graduated from Smithville High School in Smithville, Texas, and joined the Army immediately. The Army did wonderful things for Josh – gave him greater confidence, deepening patriotism, and a clearer vision of what he wanted for his life. His awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge. He was presented with two military awards at his burial, the Purple Heart and the Bronze star. When Josh got out of the military next year, he planned on taking college classes and hoped to eventually build guitars and be a sound engineer. He ordered a series of publications on how to build guitars that were sent to his mother's house and she was going to ship them to Afghanistan. The books arrived several days after his death. On Joshua's personal webpage he has the following listed as his interests: Partying, adrenaline, going nuts on my bike, motocross, working out, jaming and jaming..., knowledge, FAMILY, more riding, any sport, crusin', writing music/songs, entertainment, cool animals, crashing parties, building guitars and what ever comes along.