By Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Hardebeck, a native of Muncie, Indiana, recently received the 2024 Angel of the Battlefield Award serving with Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) Bravo, Detachment Lemoore, California.
The Angels of the Battlefield Award pays tribute to military medical personnel and first responders for their life-saving medical treatment and trauma care of service members, partner forces and civilians at home and abroad. These Angels of the Battlefield are courageous and compassionate men and women who risk everything and are often the reason many of our nation’s heroes wounded in battle or civilians in distress make it home to their families.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected for this prestigious award for my actions on Christmas Day 2023 in Iraq,” said Hardebeck. “Individual actions can create opportunity, but it’s the entire team that finds success. Unfortunately, the fact remains, that it was someone’s worst day that led to my selection and I think it’s vitally important to recognize that and be overly compassionate to the recovery of some of these patients, their caregivers and their families may still be in. In a multitude of events throughout my career at home and abroad, I have been able to use my training and expertise to stand in the way of death’s door. I take great pride in what I have been able to do and the people I have been able to impact. I look to use my knowledge and experience to mentor and train the future generation.”
Hardebeck, a 2006 graduate of Muncie Southside High School, joined the Navy 17 years ago. Additionally, Hardebeck graduated from Saint Leo University in 2013.
“With my uncle’s input, and research on my own, I decided on the U.S. Navy,” said Hardebeck. “I enlisted to get a college education and a stable income as I began a life on my own.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Muncie.
“I learned general personality characteristics from my parents and from participating in organized public school sports,” said Hardebeck. “Some things were to finish what you start. Work hard, no matter the recognition. Integrity to do right, even when no one is looking. To do right by people, even at your own detriment if needed. These are some of the things instilled into me, and I continue to adhere to them.”
Today, Hardebeck serves as a hospital corpsman responsible for performing duties as an assistant in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury and assisting healthcare professionals in providing medical care to Naval personnel and their families.
EMF Bravo is a Combat-Ready Medical Force. The unit is a critical asset, ready to support military operations by providing medical support anytime, anywhere, ensuring the health and readiness of our forces. EMF Bravo provides support for Joint and Multinational Exercises and is prepared for a wide range of contingencies, including combat medical support, disaster response and humanitarian assistance.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Hardebeck serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Hardebeck has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“After almost 18 years of service, four deployments, three of them combat, and countless amounts of patients cared for and sailors lead and mentored,” said Hardebeck. “I have to say that being able to be in the right place, at the right time, to have an impact on the outcome of life events for people has always had, and still does have, a huge impact on me and something I am incredibly appreciative and proud of.”
Hardebeck can take pride in serving America through military service.
“It is an opportunity to be a part of something greater than myself,” said Hardebeck. “I genuinely enjoy what I do and what I am able to bring to the table. The continuous journey of learning every single day and being able to better myself and those I lead is everything I could ask for.”
Hardebeck is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I will always send a shoutout to my wonderful mother, who has always been a rock and staple in my life,” added Hardebeck. “To shout my adoration and appreciation for her from the mountaintops is still not enough.”
