Joe Hershberger, age 80, passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2006, in Delaware, Ohio, surrounded by his wife of 50 years and his two daughters. He was born April 8, 1926, in Farmerstown, Ohio, and grew up on a small farm in the Amish Country and was a member of the Mennonite Old Order Amish.

He was drafted into Civilian Public Service from Sugarcreek, Ohio, in 1944 and was a CPS-103 smokejumper in Montana in 1945. He had only four practice jumps and two fire jumps during that season. In an unusual turn of events he was drafted again in 1950 and entered the Army to serve in the Korean conflict.

Joe was self-employed as a heavy equipment operator for many years, and was active in church, the VFW and American Legion, The Darby Valley Conservation Club, in and around the Plain City area (central Ohio). He was deeply devoted to his family, his country, and to the mission and values of the NSA. He was very proud of his service and went out of his way to tell others of the sacrifices smokejumpers made, continue to make, in the line of duty.