Jog 4 Joe 5K

Staff Sergeant Joseph John Hamski was born on April 30, 1983 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Ottumwa High School in 2001. He briefly attended Iowa State University before enlisting in the Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Apprentice in 2003. After completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in 2003. Staff Sergeant Hamski’s first duty station was to the EOD Flight at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. He then transferred to Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. After that he was stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. He deployed four times in his career in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (in Afghanistan). While operating in Kandahar Province, he and his Air Force team cleared lines of communication, enabled freedom of maneuver, and ensured the safety of coalition and local nationals by engaging and defeating the enemy’s weapon of choice: the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He was killed in action on May 26, 2011 when enemy forces attacked his unit with an IED.  

 

Staff Sergeant Hamski’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and the NATO Medal.

 

This race is a rememberance run and charity 5K event for the EOD Warrior Foundation and the Fisher House.  The EOD Warrior Foundation helps care for EOD families that lose loved ones and help maintain the memorial at Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, Florida.