Receiving the Gold Star with Joseph Duarte

  Joseph Duarte served in the Marine Corps for three years. He is the father of two sons, both of whom had joined the military to follow in their father’s footsteps. After serving 3 and a half years, his youngest son, Curtis, was deployed to Afghanistan as a Combat Engineer when an IED set off an explosion that collapsed a building, ending his life. Joseph later received a Gold Star as a form of recognition for his son’s service and bravery.   Joseph joins us today to share his story as a Gold Star dad and how the family commemorates his son’s memory. He describes why he enlisted in the army, his role, and what it means to receive the Gold Star. He shares the story of his son who served more than his fair share of years in the military, his passion for helping his unit, his heroism, and the event that cost him his life. Joseph also discusses the community programs they participate in to keep his son’s memory alive and how he and his family coped with their grief.       “Everybody grieves in their own way. It's an individualized journey.” - Joseph Duarte         In This Episode of Surviving Me:       Connect with Joseph Duarte:           Help Military Veterans Share Their Story   Thanks for tuning into the Surviving Me Podcast, the show for military veterans find the support they need to survive the battle within. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and leave a review. For more stories and resources for our brothers-in-arms, be sure to follow us on Facebook and visit our website. Don’t forget to share your favorite episode to help us raise awareness for our brothers-in-arms.   And remember - you are not alone. There is support. There is help. There is a purpose in life after the military.     DISCLAIMER: This content is created purely to help veterans tell their story and bring awareness to post combat-related disorders including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The Surviving Me hosts are not, nor claim to be, medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists and should not be held responsible for any claims, medical advice, or therapy/treatment recommendations mentioned on this podcast. Any advice shared by the hosts or their guests is strictly for purposes of bringing awareness to the veteran community and the services available. Please speak with your doctor or medical professional before taking any advice or starting any therapy or treatment program discussed or shared on this podcast.