Sgt. Joshua Edward Shipman, USMC
1996-2021
âIf youâre going to walk through Hell, keep walking.â -Winston Churchill
Marine Sgt. Joshua E. Shipman passed on January 26th, 2021, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Joshua was born in Chula Vista, CA in 1996. He graduated from Marysville Pilchuck High School in 2014, and worked at a movie theater before joining the US Marine Corps in July of 2015, at age 18. He served loyally and selflessly in Afghanistan, Norway, and South Africa before returning to the US. Joshua enjoyed visiting his father in Maine, and was an avid snowboarder. He was a selfless protector of those around him, and the unique Labradorite stone chosen by his father was selected for its spiritual and protective healing properties.
The following was written by Sgt. Shipman’s father:
We are very proud of the man Joshua became and the many good works he accomplished for those around him. His influence on this world will be timeless. Josh was selfless throughout his life.
I believe Joshuaâs friends describe him and how he impacted those around him much better than I ever could.Â
âWe will always remember Sgt Shipman as kind, gentle, always had a smile on his face, willing to help anything. And who can forget his smoking jacket 😀.â
âHe always had a smile on his face and a constant positive attitude, his good vibe rubbed off to those around him.â
âI remember his power ranger costume during Halloween, it didnât quite fit so he cut holes in it so he could see, it was hilarious, and then his pimped out outfit for my going away, even though the shoes didnât match, he worked it well. May he rest in peace. Semper Fi.â
âShipman was one of the sweetest men I came across while serving time with the Air Force in Kabul. Anytime you needed support he was always there.â
âJosh was instantly family. I met him when I was in 7th grade and he was in 8th. We had sleep overs and just the craziest of times. He always had a smile on his face and encouraged me to always be a better me and helped me become who I am today. I remember when he told me he wanted to pursue his career into the Marines and it always put a smile on his face. I watched him become a better man. We were always there for each other and I am so thankful that I could call him my best friend. He was courageous, kind, sweet, smart, silly and just so much more. I will cherish every single memory that I have with him. I wanna say thank you for being a part of my life.â
âI have known josh Since he was like 11 or 12 years old he went to middle school with my children Harminnie and AJ at Cedar crest I love that child as if he was my own we spent like every day at our house or at his house. I remember him and my son watching PokĂ©mon, doing homework, and our dinners together. He knew what he wanted he did what it took to get no matter how hard it might be. Iâm so proud of him. I will miss you josh thank u for blessing my heart with your love….â
âJosh and I only had met shortly before going to Snowshoe. Immediately I felt his bright energy and his welcoming personality. He immediately made me feel like we had been friends for years off the bat. Getting to know Josh at Snowshoe, I learned how he was a proud Marine and his life story. We later that day spent hours just talking about life, interest, and goals. Josh offered to help me in my goals without even knowing the full extent of them. That was the kind of person Josh was, a man who wanted to help everyone cause he cared for everyone. He had an open and loving heart. Iâll never forget the talks we had Josh.â
âJosh, and I truly embodied the meaning of the family you chose. We met in 6th grade. First time we spoke, we started to list off all of the thing’s we loved at the time. PokĂ©mon, drake and Josh, and music. At the end we looked at each other, and said “did we just become best friends? Yep.”
ââŠone of my favorite memories is from the Halloween party when his costume left nothing to imagination, and was a big hit. He would always do what he could to make people around him smile,âŠâ
âI only met Josh recently on a trip to snowshoe, WV and knew him for a short time, but in getting to know Josh, it was easy to see how much of a kind and giving person he was. One day Josh, Bridgette and I were riding up a ski lift and my one of my skis fell off and into the forest halfway up the slope. This would have left me stranded on top of the mountain if I were by myself, but before I even had time to think of what to do, Josh was speaking with ski patrol and making his way down the mountain on a rescue mission for my ski. I hadnât asked him to do that for me, he just immediately took charge and helped me out. About 20 minutes later, after what Iâm sure was a difficult journey through the mountain, he arrived back with my ski. He barely waited for me to thank him before he was continuing to what was next for the day. He hadnât helped me for a âthank youâ or an âatta boyâ, he just saw that I was in trouble and didnât even think before taking care of it. I was very moved by that gesture and it was a good example of his character. He was caring, gracious, and just a genuinely good guy to be around.â
âThis one time, we were enjoying some adult beverages on our day off work. 1am rolled around and we had the genius idea to pet the tiger statue in front of the Oslo train station. It was pitch black, torrential downpouring, we were a little drunk, and had to run the 4 miles there and back before our 3am curfew, not a problem for a pair of U.S. Marines! Josh threw-up somewhere along the way and we both miserably stumbled through the streets of Oslo. We were relieved when we made it to the tiger then quickly disappointed because we had to turn around and run the mostly uphill route back. We made it with all of 7.5 minutes to spare before our curfew. It might sound awful, but it was one of my best memories from Oslo.â
âHe walked through snow to get coffee for Bridgette and I which was so nice and thoughtful. And helped me when I was injured on our ski trip. I canât say how much I appreciated the small acts of kindness from him.â
âI met Josh while he served at Embassy Oslo, Norway. He would always meet you with a big grin every morning as you passed Post 1, and it was the type of smile that stayed with you and was a great way of starting the day. He was very caring and would always be the first to help with anything.â
Thank you, Son.
14 Comments
Dennis, this will be a tremendous way to honor Josh! It is also a great way to continue your grieving and healing.
Thank you,
We have a lot of Hero’s expectations to live up to and a whole lot of positive role modeling to do.
A great opportunity for me to be a positive role model and to live up to Joshua’s expectations.
Dear Mr. Shipman,
Once I knew Joshua was my Fallen Hero, I immediately searched the info on TSPâs site to learn more about him. I instantly had to write down my thoughts and figured I would add to it once the mission was completed.
I am honored to carry the Labradorite stone for your son, Sgt. Joshua Edward Shipman. To be honest, I had to research this stone and its meaning. Come to find out, I could use one of my own. I read the comments from his friends and a few things hit me hard. Iâm writing this with tears in my eyes as I wish to have been able to meet him personally and see his infectious smile I read about. The world we live in today is very different from the time we grew up in. So much negativity looms around every corner these days and itâs hard not to follow suit. Iâve always felt that I was self-aware and had control of my emotions, but I think Iâve lost a piece of that over time. Iâve found myself struggling with the way Iâve handled certain situations and insecurities I didnât know I had. All I can think is, I wish I had a Josh to talk to. I bet he would have reassured me that I would pull out of it, that I would remain the same person I was raised to be (and proud to be) and that with positive thinking I would be ok. He would have cracked jokes, made me laugh and genuinely cared about me and my wellbeing. These are all traits I felt I had until recently.
Wow, what an eye opening and self-healing experience it was to transport Joshuaâs stone. I am taken aback by how emotional this event was for me. Again, writing this with tears in my eyes. I did not know that I would cry as hard as I did and how it was going to leave a permanent mark on my heart.
This stone is said to heal against negativity we have within ourselves, and I believe that to be true. While carrying the stone to Baxter State Park I was finally able to reflect on the internal issues Iâve been dwelling on and find the path to get me back in a positive mindset. Iâve always believed that everything happens for a reason, and I believe Joshua came into my life for this reason. Thank you, Joshua Shipman, you will forever be in my heart and NEVER FORGOTTEN!
With great appreciation,
Cassie Waterhouse
Apologies for not replying sooner.
You were the perfect person to carry Joshua’s Stone that day. You did an outstanding job and it wasn’t easy!
There are sad tears and there are glory/happy tears. The glory tears are so much more powerful. I truly hope more can experience it. Because of you, many will. When you throw a pebble in a lake, you will not see where the ripples of the waves always end or touch. Do right, have compassion, and have faith that the ripples you send will find a home.
While reading your comment, it was glory tears, beautiful.
You inspire me.
Thank you
I was honored to carry Joshuaâs stone during TSP at BSP 2022 with Red Team and share my sonâs life with many amazing people. The Gold Star Family members, the other hikers, The Summit Project team, the volunteers, the MC Clubs, and everyone else I met exemplified the honor, respect, empathy, and compassion I heard often spoken about the heroes we carried and will carry again.
Throughout the weekend, I constantly witnessed the same personality traits and behaviors that everyone else was describing with our fallen. The same selflessness and compassion were all around. I realized that many of these people are the role models that helped shape these heroes. After that, I was kind of in awe.
Joshua was a middle child, and he was the peacemaker, the one who would do anything to help make things better for someone else. He would embarrass himself to get the heat off someone else who was embarrassed. He would run up and down a mountain for you because you lost your ski pole. He wore a red velvet smoking jacket to a formal he didnât have a black coat for. After that, he bought some very loud dinner jackets to keep the trend going. If anyone needs a lavender suit, let me know.
Joshua appreciated every gift he ever received and loved to laugh.
Joshua was many things to many people, and his compassion and selflessness were traits that never wavered, no matter the environment.
I was inspired by something unique from each hiker in our group. I think mighty mouse smiled more and more as the leg pain set in.
I am genuinely thankful for each of my Team Red hikers.
It was my honor to learn about these heroesâ lives, speak about Joshua, and meet such magnificent people.
Thank you, Gold Star Families, for giving me courage and strength.
I look forward to seeing you all again.
To the Family of Sgt. Joshua Edward Shipman, USMC:
As I prepared my team (Team Gold) for the tenth anniversary BSP hike with TSP this spring I was anxious to learn who I would be carrying in my pack and in my heart. I cannot lie, when I saw Joshuaâs name next to mine on the roster I felt anxious. Over the ten years with TSP I have come to know so many of our heroes and have a solid base of knowledge for many of them. But, Joshua, I knew nothing about. I wanted to do him justice, so I set to work looking for details and information. As I researched I began to develop a picture of this young man in my mind, and had to smile each time I saw his photos and read about his beautiful personality and altruistic soul.
In 1996, as I was moving my belongings into my very first residence outside my parentsâ home, my freshman dorm room at college, Joshua was just becoming. Becoming a son, becoming a brother, and becoming a light in the world. We were 18 years apart but we were both facing this big world for the first time. Then, in the blink of an eye, just two days shy of my 43rd birthday, his beautiful smile and the light he provided on this earth were laid to rest. It gave me pause to think about my first 25 years of life. What had I accomplished, what had I learned, and what impact had I left on those I encountered? It is a precious thing to leave such a mark on the world that friends and family say the kinds of things they said about Joshua. He made people feel important and worthy. He included them and made them feel welcome. He was wholesome and fun and he made people laugh. His presence in their lives was lasting and made them better people. At the age of 25 I was not these things for others, but I could have desperately used someone like Joshua in my life at that time.
Our hike started later than the other three teams, and the day was already warming up. As we landed at the trail head, I called out each Team Memberâs name and their hero to ensure all 18 of us were present and accounted for – half in body and half in spirit. As I pulled Joshuaâs stone from my pack to complete the accountability check, I saw it in the sun and with its beautiful shine and sparkle I smiled and felt so happy and positive – like I had received a flash of that big smile of his. Our team was tasked with the maiden hike of the River Pond Nature Trail and we were ready. Armed with the tools of the role we each played for Team Gold, we marched off single file through the woods to our destination of Moose Point, where we would hold our Sacred Circle. It was a balmy 90Âș in the deep woods and we encountered a few areas where we had no wind, but otherwise we were truly blessed with a strong breeze which both cooled us and kept the bugs away.
We were actually a few hours ahead of schedule due to this being the first hike and not knowing what to expect, so we took full advantage of the extra time. When we reached the location of our circle ceremony we found ourselves at the base of Mount Katahdin in all her glory. On the shores of the lake, we sat wherever we felt comfortable and enjoyed some quiet reflection time. As we each gathered our thoughts, I sat with Joshuaâs stone and the anxiety began to set in again. Had I done enough and learned all I could? Would I be able to convey the beauty and selflessness that he left in his wake? As a Team Lead and a long-time TSP volunteer, I spend a lot of time reassuring hikers that their circle testimony and their reflection letters are perfect however they come out, and what they say/write is what was on their hearts. When my turn came, I spoke from the heart and realized that Joshua was not only exactly what I needed in my life at age 25, but he was exactly what I needed now. The amazing Labradorite stone with its healing properties, and the knowledge that I would forever carry this remarkable young man in my heart, soothed my anxiety and, sitting in the shadow of the most spectacular view of Katahdin, I was provided with a sense of calm and confidence. I can do this. Whatever this may be. Life is so incredibly short and fragile, and I am prepared to be fully engaged in the next 25 years.
Dennis, in closing, I will share the most beautiful connection I found with your son. I have always said there are three pieces of my heart spread across this great state. It started with just one, my goddaughter, and she had my whole heart. Then my son was born and my heart grew. Living three hours apart I felt the split and knew that a piece of me would always be with her. Three years ago my godson was born, and again, my heart grew to accommodate all the love I held for each of them. Currently, a piece of my heart lives here in Surry, where I reside with my son; A piece of my heart lives in Bradford, with my godson; and a piece of my heart, the original piece that was able to grow and expand to allow so much love, lives in Limerick with my goddaughter. I feel peace and comfort in knowing she is now under the watch and guidance of the fierce protector and wonderful young man that you have shared and allowed me to come to know. Thank you so much for allowing us to honor Joshua and to heal and grow through our contact with his stone and story.
I look forward to the time when those pieces come back together.
Small world- We’re currently renting, but plan on buying a house in Limerick in the next year. If your Godson needs anything, we’re here.
Your words above are perfect. Joshua was capable of many things, but above all in my mind, he was a rescuer. Rescuing others was his purpose. If someone was sad, he rescued them. If someone was injured, he rescued them, if someone was depressed, he rescued them.
You captured Joshua very well in your letter and his Stone is definitely his personality. …always trying to heal others.
I am grateful for you and your perfect Reflection Letter.
I can’t wait to see you at the next event, big hug!
Thank you
I had the honor and pleasure of carrying your stone on Thursday, August 24, 2023, for a work event. The entire staff carried stones for our offsite event in Brunswick, ME, but getting to carry your stone was especially significant for me as I am a Marine too. As I read through your information, it became clear to me that you fiercely protected those you cared about and always stood up for what was right. These are admirable traits that not everyone has, but they seemed to be the essence of who you are. So, thank you. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for joining the Marine Corps. Each time I carry a Marine’s stone a song comes to me. For you, it is Jason Alden – Try That In A Small Town. Who knows – maybe you even secretly whispered some of those lyrics into his ears. đ Mr. Shipman – thank you for raising such an amazing person. I know no words can take away your pain, but I hope it helps to know how much your son is admired and thought of and now he has one more person telling his story đ Semper Fi.
Jennifer,
Thank you for your continued service.
Souls like yours are a blessing to this world.
You are the reason and the reward.
I’m grateful for you and I thank you for keeping Joshua’s story alive.
â€ïž
First and foremost, I want to apologize for the delay in posting this letter. Was unintentional and I very much shouldâve followed up to ensure it was successfully posted onto the site.
In 2023, I had the honor and the privilege to carry Joshâs stone and share his story on a number of different treks conducted throughout the year. During this time, not only did I have the selfish pleasure of spending an exorbitant amount of time with Josh, but his story was shared with countless people along the way and I can personally attest to the impact that he made upon everyone we interacted with throughout the entirety of the year.
Carrying Joshâs stone was extremely special for me, for a number of reasons. Over the past few years, Iâve become close friends with his father, Dennis, and if I was being honest, I think both Josh and Dennis have helped me far more than Iâve even been able to help either of them. Joshâs story resonates with me on many levels. As a Marine veteran, I deployed 5 times to various parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, have seen my share of devastation and inhumanity in the world, and lost a number of friends and fellow Service Members along the way. But through all those years, it still tears at my soul to say that Iâve lost more friends to suicide than I have to combat. And many times, I often find myself asking why? Was there anything I couldâve done differently to prevent it? What were the signs that I missed? Have learned a lot over the years about these types of loss, and honestly have learned a lot about myself along the way. I think thatâs why Josh and I bonded so well while out on the trails, and why I spent so much time with him over the past year. Thereâs no irony in the fact that his stone is made of labradorite; there was a LOT of healing that took place with every step that was taken and every story that was shared.
I had the pleasure of hiking with Josh to the summit of Agamenticus with a group of Pratt & Whitney employees during their annual TSP hike, climbed to the top of Mt Pierce in New Hampshire with Open Doors Outdoors and an RTX Vets group from CT (this was also my first climb of a Presidential, which of course now I need to complete them all), conducted countless rucks with him in my pack, and shared his story alongside Dennis during the Portland Sea Dogâs Annual Military Appreciation Game. On each of those hikes, I was able to share Joshâs story with everyone who ever joined me, but what I think I loved the most was when other hikers would pass, hear his story being told, and see his stone held in my hands, they would stop and stand on the outside of our circle to listen and pay their respects to him as well. Itâs humbling to realize how much of an impact he was able to make upon so many, even during just those few short trips that he took with meâŠ
My favorite hike that he joined me for, though, was a very special hike through the Appalachians with a very special team of people that joined me; we called the journey âA Heroâs Hundred.â We organized this hike with the intent to complete this grueling and incredibly demanding journey that would commemorate the 10th Anniversary of The Summit Project, test our mental and physical abilities, all with the continuous motivation and support provided by the TSP heroes carried in our packs along the way. This 10-day journey started at the beginning of the 100-Mile Wilderness and continued on to the summit of Katahdin. And what an experience this wasâŠ
Dennis was one of my teammates on this trek. As we began our planning, training, and all of the pre-work in preparation for this multi-day adventure, I had asked Dennis if he would like to carry his son, and his response was that Josh needed to go with me. Looking back, I think it was actually me that needed Josh to come with, and Iâm forever indebted to Dennis for extending to the me the trust and ability to do so.
There were many times along the way that I pulled away from the group to sit by a stream or find a quiet spot just to hang out with Josh for a bit. We talked about the journey. We talked about his dad. We talked about ourselves. Sometimes we just sat there and took in our surroundings and enjoyed the sounds of nothingness. Those times were probably the most special to me because it allowed me to be in the moment, which candidly doesnât happen nearly as often as Iâd like.
As many members of our team did, we shared the stories of our heroes with the people we interacted with at each campsite along the route. But then something extra special started happening; as we were on the trail, hikers would start coming up to us and ask if we were the oneâs carrying the stones of our fallen heroes. They would ask to see and hold the stones and to hear their stories. And we soon realized that as we continued to hike each day, word of what we were doing was being shared up and down the AT by other hikers and soon the heroes we carried were becoming known and talked about not just by us, but by every hiker on the trail as well. Nothing can make you smile more than watching the magic of TSP take place, and the continuous impact take place of the men and women who we carried with us.
During this journey, Dennis had given each of us a labradorite stone of our own (much smaller than Joshâs, of course) to keep with us in our pockets. What he doesnât know (but likely will once he reads this letter), is that even after completing this journey, I still carry this stone with me. And honestly, it reminds me that not every day is going to be a great day. Not every day is going to be a good day. But every day will have good embedded within it. When I find myself having one of those days, I pull away for a moment, hold that stone, and reflect upon everything and everyone around me. And I can feel Joshâs strength. And I can feel my strength. And it helps bring me back to live in the moment once again, just like Josh helped me do on the trail. I always find myself grateful to be constantly surrounded by so many incredible, selfless people, and inherently these people always help bring out the person who I want to be as well.
In closing, I want to thank Josh for sharing so many wonderful memories with me. Iâd like to thank Dennis for the most amazing friendship that weâve created. And Iâd like to thank the H100 team who Iâm privileged to have been able to go on each of this most amazing journey with. You are all very, very special to me, and the bonds weâve made together will undoubtedly last a lifetime. I appreciate you all tremendously, and hope you all know just how much you mean to meâŠ
Bravo Zulu Brother!
You are one hell of a role model.
Keep pushing!!!
Joshua would have been honored to follow your leadership and role modeling.
We are one.
â€ïž
To the family of SGT Joshua Shipman,
I had the honor and pleasure of hiking Operation Ascend to Remember in the Bigelows with Joshâs stone. The more I learned about Josh, the more I realized how good a friend and son he must have been. The fun stories I read from his friends were undeniable proof of what a special man Josh was. He touched so many lives with his kindness and goofy personality. He continues to inspire today by us learning and sharing his story, but those who made memories with him are truly lucky.
As I carried his labradorite stone, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the sacrifices he made and the impact he left on the world. Though I never met Josh, it was clear to me how deeply loved and respected he was by those around him. His service, friendship, and joy continues to shine brightly, and I strive to follow Joshâs example by living with kindness and doing good for others, just as he did.
Joshâs story will not be forgotten and his positive influence on the world will be timeless. It was a privilege to hike in his honor, and I will carry his spirit with me always.
With deepest sympathy and respect,
Ryan Johnson
My wife and I were blessed to meet Sgt. Shipman’s father on September 29, 2024 at an event in Orono, Maine. He is truly a man who honors his son and carries his stone and story with grace. It was difficult to hear of a young man with so much potential that we lost so early, but as my wife and I walked, we reflected on the good that can and will come from a young man who served honorably.