Honoree: Joseph B. Cemper

Hometown: Warrensburg, MO
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: Specialist
Player: Godfrey Nsubuga
Specialist Joseph Cemper, 21, of Warrensburg, MO was assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. On April 16, 2011, he and four others were killed at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, when a man posing as an Afghan National Army soldier forced his way into a meeting and detonated multiple grenades, killing himself as well.
Following graduation from Warrensburg High School, PFC Cemper began college at the University of Central Missouri where he was a member of the wrestling team. After one year of college, Joseph felt the call to serve his country. He entered the Army in 2009 and quickly showed his physical and mental toughness as he completed Air Assault training and the Warrior Leadership course. He was posthumously promoted to Specialist.
Those who knew him said that he embodied a unique combination of character traits: leadership, charisma, humility, honor, heroism and an insatiable need to serve his country.
SPC Cemper is survived by his fiancé, Abbie, who was his high school sweetheart, and son, Liam.