Sergeant First Class Joseph W. Bourassa was born on 5 May 1929. He enlisted in the US Army in 1947. He attended the Basic Airborne Course in 1949 and was awarded the Parachutist Badge and the Glider Badge. He served with the 187th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War and made two combat jumps with the unit as an Artillery Sergeant.
Joe also served in the US Navy from 1958 until 1962.
He enlisted in Company C, 5th Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, RI Army National Guard in 1975. During his service in Special Forces, he was awarded the SF Tab and the Royal Thai parachutist badge. He retired as an 11B4S in 1989.
Joe lived in Millville, MA.
He died on 10 July 2006.
