Corporal Joseph Christopher McCarthy, 21, died on September 6, 2004. McCarthy, a United States Marine, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom was one of seven marines killed when a car bomb exploded last Monday in Fallujah, Iraq. Joseph was born March 21, 1983 in Phoenix. His family lived in Round Lake Beach, Ill. in 1983. He became enthralled with sports. He loved Sammy Sosa, Mike Ditka, Michael Jordan, CUBBIES! While in Round Lake he was a paperboy for the Waukegan News-Sun. In 1996 his family moved to Concho, where he attended Concho School for the eighth grade. They later moved to St. Johns where he attended high school. He loved basketball and the Chicago Cubs, Bears, Bulls, movies and music. During his senior year at St. Johns High School, Joe enlisted with the Marines. He was scheduled to ship out to boot camp on September 11, 2001. Due to our country's tragedy he was delayed until September 13th. He married Amanda Rae Salazar, his high school sweetheart, on September 20, 2003. In a letter to his wife, during his Marine training, he stated, "I would not trade my life for anything. To me, I have the perfect life; perfect parents, perfect friends, perfect you, perfect job, perfect everything." Joseph served in the Marine Corp honorably and with pride. Joe earned two purple hearts. For his second purple heart he received a gold star. About her son, Joe's mother, Rhonda said, "I am proud of my son as a man, a brother, a husband and a marine." "He was a pillar I built on top of, and he never had to say a word," said sister Stephanie. "Everyone loved Joe just for being funny, caring Joe," said wife, Amanda. "He absolutely exuded light, and it spread to everyone he knew. I am proud to be his wife, and proud to support our military. He was living his dream." Joseph's survivors include his wife, Amanda McCarthy of Fallbrook, Ca. (formerly St. Johns); parents Christopher and Rhonda McCarthy, St. Johns; sisters Stephanie and Jennie McCarthy, St. Johns; grandparents Paulette Johnson, Concho and Jerry Wilson, Chicago, Ill. His Poppy and Nana, whom he loved very much, preceded him in death. Corporal McCarthy will receive a Hero's Welcome down Cleveland Street in St. Johns starting at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept 17. Visitation will follow immediately after the procession. Rosary is at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. Johns at 7 p.m. Friday evening. Funeral Mass is at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, also at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Interment is at the St. Johns Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joe's name at Community First Bank where the proceeds will be used to provide toys to children for Christmas through the local organization "Toys for Kids." Burnham-Jewkes Mortuary, St. Johns is in charge of arrangements.
Published in The Arizona Republic on 9/16/2004.