Joseph Patrick Dwyer

Joseph Patrick Dwyer (September 28, 1976 – June 28, 2008) was an American soldier, who became famous for a photograph of him helping an ailing Iraqi boy. Dwyer had enlisted in the United States Army after 9/11 and went on to serve as a combat medic in the 3rd Infantry Division.[1]

Joseph Dwyer
Born	September 28, 1976 Manhasset, Nassau County, New York, U.S.
Died	June 28, 2008 (aged 31) Pinehurst, North Carolina, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Specialist
Unit	3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Iraq War

Iconic image of Dwyer helping an Iraqi child (March 25, 2003)

Dwyer died on June 28, 2008. On June 28, Mr Dwyer, 31, called a taxi to take him to a hospital near his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina, after earlier taking prescription pills and inhaling fumes from a computer cleaner aerosol. When the driver arrived, Mr Dwyer said he was too weak to open the door. Police had to kick it down and found he had collapsed. Within minutes, he had died. He was said to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.[2][3]

References

1. "US Iraq war hero Joseph Dwyer dies of apparent drugs overdose", Telegraph.co.uk; accessed June 21, 2017.
2. "What Joe Dwyer's Death Can Teach Us about PTSD", Spiegel.de; accessed June 21, 2017.(in German)
3. "Soldier in famous photo never defeated 'demons'", USAToday.com; accessed June 21, 2017.

External links

• "Soldier returns from Iraq to share story with ROTC students" - Richmond County Daily Journal
• "Former War Photographer Remembers Soldier" - CBS News
• "From war hero to war haunted, LI vet depicted in famous struggle with menacing stress disorder that escalated to a standoff" - News Day
• "What Happens When Soldiers Come Home From War?" - Eyewitness News