After graduating from Eden Prairie High School in 2004, Joe joined the Marines. He went through boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. He continued combat training based in 29 Palms, Calif. and served two deployments in Iraq and a third in Afghanistan.

During his deployment in Afghanistan, Joe and his team were hit by an I.E.D. Joe and two of his comrades survived that explosion and received care at B.A.M.C. in San Antonio, Texas.

He is making an exceptional recovery and is looking forward to returning to civilian life and pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Joe Piram was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals.