Joe Roche
Encyclopedia
Joseph Roche is an Iraq War veteran
and conservative commentator.
, India
who came to the United States
to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston
Roche's mother is from West Virginia
. Joseph Roche senior was a violin
ist with the Minnesota Orchestra
from 1959–1994 and the Macalester Trio from 1969–1994; his mother Sarita is a renowned coloratura soprano
; and his sister Gita is a principal cello of the Baltimore Opera and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Joe Roche grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood in Minneapolis and graduated from Minnehaha Academy
and in 1998 received a degree in history
from the University of Minnesota
.
Roche became interested in politics and the Republican Party
while he was college student. In 1990 at an Independent-Republican Party meeting he submitted a resolution in support of embattled Republican Senator David Durenberger
, calling charges of unethical conduct against the Senator "trumped up too much." In the 1990s Roche began political commentatory for the Minnesota Daily
, student newspaper at the University of Minnesota
. Roche was a frequent critique of liberals
and the Clinton administration
and an advocate for the views of the Republican Party. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Roche won the Minnesota Daily’s Harrison Salisbury Annual Achievement Award in 2005.
for a brief stint. But in 2002 he returned to the United States and enlisted in the United States Army
and deployed to Iraq in May 2003 as a member of the Army's 16th Combat Engineer Battalion
. Roche was stationed in Baghdad
and held the rank of specialist
. His main responsibility was as a Humvee
driver and gunner. When President George W. Bush
traveled to Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day 2003, he shook hands with Roche, who had been in Iraq since the end of May. Roche had been a vocal advocate of a continued American military presence in Iraq and criticized calls in the United States for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, what they're [the guerrillas] really aiming for is to break the will of the American people.... They know they can't defeat us in Iraq. They're trying to defeat us back here at home. During his tour in Iraq, Roche was once driving his Humvee 75 miles per hour when two Iraqi men waved to stop him, preventing him from driving over a roadside bomb. Roche later commented to the Star Tribune
news paper that these men "saved our lives. Iraqis are sticking their necks out for us."
and other conservative talk show host radio. It was quoted by President George W. Bush
at the Republican National Convention
in 2004.
Roche's father died in July 2007.
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and conservative commentator.
Early life
Roche comes from a family of talented musicians. Roche's father, also named Joseph Roche, was a native of MadrasChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study at the New England Conservatory in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Roche's mother is from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Joseph Roche senior was a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist with the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
from 1959–1994 and the Macalester Trio from 1969–1994; his mother Sarita is a renowned coloratura soprano
Coloratura soprano
A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic soprano who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs and leaps. The term coloratura refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, which is a typical component of the music written for this voice...
; and his sister Gita is a principal cello of the Baltimore Opera and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Joe Roche grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood in Minneapolis and graduated from Minnehaha Academy
Minnehaha Academy
Minnehaha Academy is a Christian private school in Minneapolis, Minnesota for students in preschool through 12th grade, and established in 1913. It is owned by the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and is located in the Cooper and Longfellow neighborhoods. The student body...
and in 1998 received a degree in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
Roche became interested in politics and the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
while he was college student. In 1990 at an Independent-Republican Party meeting he submitted a resolution in support of embattled Republican Senator David Durenberger
David Durenberger
David Ferdinand Durenberger is an American politician and a former Republican member of the U.S. Senate from Minnesota.- Early life :...
, calling charges of unethical conduct against the Senator "trumped up too much." In the 1990s Roche began political commentatory for the Minnesota Daily
Minnesota Daily
The Minnesota Daily is the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, published Monday-Thursday while school is in session, and published weekly on Wednesdays during summer sessions. Published since 1900, the paper is one of the largest student-run and student-written newspapers...
, student newspaper at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Roche was a frequent critique of liberals
Liberalism in the United States
Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process...
and the Clinton administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
and an advocate for the views of the Republican Party. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Roche won the Minnesota Daily’s Harrison Salisbury Annual Achievement Award in 2005.
Military deployment
Roche is a self described ``geek who has long followed issues involving the Middle East. He was frustrated with the way the U.S. responded to terrorism before September 11, citing the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. Roche volunteered for the military after the September 11th terrorist attacks, stating that "When September 11 happened, I just realized I can't sit out this one. Following the attacks Roche joined the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
for a brief stint. But in 2002 he returned to the United States and enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and deployed to Iraq in May 2003 as a member of the Army's 16th Combat Engineer Battalion
16th Engineer Battalion (United States)
The 16th Engineer Battalion is a Combat Engineer Battalion in the United States Army, first establishedn in 1935-Lineage:*Constituted 11 December 1935 in the Regular Army as the 16th Engineer Regiment...
. Roche was stationed in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and held the rank of specialist
Specialist (rank)
Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...
. His main responsibility was as a Humvee
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
driver and gunner. When President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
traveled to Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day 2003, he shook hands with Roche, who had been in Iraq since the end of May. Roche had been a vocal advocate of a continued American military presence in Iraq and criticized calls in the United States for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, what they're [the guerrillas] really aiming for is to break the will of the American people.... They know they can't defeat us in Iraq. They're trying to defeat us back here at home. During his tour in Iraq, Roche was once driving his Humvee 75 miles per hour when two Iraqi men waved to stop him, preventing him from driving over a roadside bomb. Roche later commented to the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
news paper that these men "saved our lives. Iraqis are sticking their necks out for us."
Quoted by President Bush in 2004
Roche’s editorial “Keep the faith - we are, the Iraqi people are,” written while in the field in Iraq, was widely printed in the conservative press, read on air by Rush LimbaughRush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
and other conservative talk show host radio. It was quoted by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
at the Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
in 2004.
Roche's father died in July 2007.