This is the article that will appear in the town paper of Adams, MN where Joey Attended High School.

Joseph John Shimerdla was salutatorian of the Southland High School class of 1994. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and graduated in 1998 with degrees in European History and Systems Engineering. After graduation, he attended Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training and the Advanced Qualification Course for CH-47D Chinook helicopters at Fort Rucker, AL
Upon completion of Flight School in 2000, he was stationed at a Chinook flight company at Fort Bragg, NC. Shortly after marrying the love of his life, Stephanie Jackson, in June 2002, Joe's unit came down on orders to deploy to Afghanistan. He stayed behind as the Rear-Detachment Commander and oversaw the maintenance of the unit's aircraft and train-up of incoming pilots for deployment until he returned to Fort Rucker to attend the Aviation Captain's Career Course and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, KS.

In 2004, Joe was stationed at Camp Humphreys, South Korea for 12 months as the Executive Officer for one of the two Chinook flight companies in theater, following which he returned to Fort Rucker. He served as an Assistant Battalion S3, Executive Officer for the Chinook training company, and later took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-223rd Aviation Regiment.

Following his company command, Joe volunteered to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is currently stationed at Camp Victory, Iraq and assigned to the Multi-National Force - Iraq Command Group as the Command Aviation and Executive Services Division Chief.

The picture is of Joe giving a portrait to the Commanding General, General David Petraeus. The picture was drawn by Joe's wife, Stephanie, who is a digital artist. He presented the portrait on behalf of Multi-National Force - Iraq during General Petraeus's farewell. Joe was also responsible for planning General Petraeus's farewell, award ceremony, and change of command, which was attended by over 700 General Officers, Ambassadors, and other foreign dignitaries. Over 35 different news agencies were also present. Following the change of command, General Petraeus assumed command of CENTCOM in Tampa, FL.

Joe has also finished the novel that he has been working on for several years. He hopes to finish revising it, find a literary agent, and get it published when he returns to the states sometime in December 2008. He will also be promoted to Major in November of this year.