MI Army Guard Soldier retires with 28 years of military service

ISHPEMING, Mich. --

Michigan Army National Guard Soldier, Master Sgt. Joseph Battisfore of Calumet, recently retired from the Guard and Reserve forces with more than 28 years of honorable military service.

Battisfore was a member of Ishpeming-based, 107th Engineer Battalion, prior to his retirement. He served as the battalion operations sergeant for the 107th and as an engineer liaison officer to the Eastern European country of Latvia; with which the Michigan National Guard has held a state partnership with for 24 years.

Prior to his Guard service, Battisfore served on active duty for four years.

Battisfore attended basic training in 1987, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. He also attended Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness Course, Search and Extraction Leadership Course, Explosive Ordnance Clearance Agent Course, and Route Reconnaissance -Clearance Course.

Battisfore is a 2006 veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a 2008 veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. During his tours, he served as a platoon sergeant on both deployments.

Battisfore has received numerous military awards including a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, ten awards of the Army Commendation Medal including one for Valor, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, seven awards of the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

Battisfore graduated in 1986 from Houghton High School, and received an associate degree in 1997 from Michigan Technological University.

He is married to Joye Battisfore, with son Hunter of Hancock, and daughter Jessica Hermann of Houghton. He hopes to find employment, post-military retirement, in the Keweenaw Peninsula area.

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