Based: Ft. Hood, Texas
110th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 25, 2006
Baghdad, Iraq
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Discovery Bay
High School: Liberty High (Brentwood)
Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, Calif.
"One of the last conversations I had with him was -- 'Aww Dad,' he says, 'There's a lot worse places in Iraq to be than here, so don't worry about me,' " Kevin Graves recounted Thursday in the living room of his Discovery Bay home on the eastern edge of Contra Costa County where his son grew up.
The elder Graves remembers being surprised when his son, after completing basic training, went off to jump school at Ft. Benning, Ga., for airborne training. "This was a kid I could hardly get to ski down a ski slope, because it was too intimidating," he said. "And now he's jumping out of airplanes."
The soldier's wife, Cori, 20, said she didn't press her husband for details of combat duty and knows little about the mission that took his life. The two started dating as teenagers in Discovery Bay, about 45 miles east of San Francisco.
"I'm at peace with the little things that I have been told, and it's been minimal, to protect myself from getting hurt or upset," his wife said. "I don't need to know any more. He was there, he was doing a job that he wanted, and I'm OK with that."
One memory of Joseph A. GravesRead more about Joseph A. Graves here and here.
what cant i say about this guy? he was my friend my brother and great guy to just be around. the time that i new joseph we were in iraq together and he was the one that i went to if i wanted to talk to someone. we were stationed in fort hood and he was the one that always had a smile on his face and addored his wife to death. most of all he was our friend and our brother. we all miss him and wish we can turn back the hands of time.
love you man
jason rodriguez
— jason
October 1, 2009 at 1:33 p.m.
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