Joseph John Anzack Jr. was born on February 4, 1987 at Women’s Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, CA. His parents were Joseph and Theresa Anzack, with a sister, Casey.

Joseph was raised in Torrance and graduated from South High in 2005. He played noseguard and other positions for the South High Spartans for all four years. He was known as “Psycho Joe” for his intensity on the football field.

Private First Class Joseph Anzack Jr. was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was captured May 12, 2007 by enemy forces in Youssifiyah, south of Baghdad Iraq, when his unit was ambushed by the Islamic State of Iraq using automatic fire and explosives and Anzack was captured. After an intensive search Iraqi police found his body in the Euphrates River on May 23rd.

Joseph Anzack Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart and promoted posthumously to Corporal.