Joseph Tracy

Joseph DeWayne Tracy (December 12, 1947 - May 6th, 2003), often referred to by his initials JDT, due to his signing of documents, was a US House Representative from Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. He was first elected in 1998, and held office until the 2002 Indiana Senate race, where he lost by less than 1%.

Early Life
JDT was born on the evening of December 12, 1947 to Eugene and Helen Tracy. The former was a Rifleman in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, "Big Red One" with the later being a factory worker during the war. Joseph would receive two younger siblings at the age of 6 during the Baby Boom. Joseph grew up through the La Fayette School system being a star student, taking great interest in politics and their influences throughout history. He Graduated with good grades and planned to go to college, however dropped the idea when in 1965 the U.S. sent its first troops into Vietnam.

Military Career
In 1965 The U.S. sent it's first wave of troops into Vietnam, with Joseph's father being a WW2 veteran, he was urged to enlist in the Army. He enlisted and was assigned to the 338th Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division. Joseph requested to be among the first deployed to Vietnam, and was shipped out in 1966. He would serve there until U.S. troops began to be pulled out in 1971. His family noticed a decline in mental health over his leave time in the States, and had protested against him going back near the end, but were happy when he came back in '71. Joseph would serve stateside until 1973, and used this time to come to terms with what he had witnessed in the war. He then requested, and was granted an honorable discharge to pursue a Political College Major.

Political career
After four years of college, Joseph set out on making a name for himself in the political spectrum which all culminated in 1998 when he secured the seat of Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. He still held the seat as of the 2000 election cycle, but chose to run in the 2002 Indiana Senate race. He later lost that election to Space Ball in 2002 by just 13,000 votes

Family
Joseph is survived by his Loving wife Kristen, and his two children Joseph Tracy II who served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Infantry Division. He is now stateside and is starting in his own political endeavors to follow in his fathers steps. Joseph Tracy II was later elected to Indiana's 3rd District in 2004 and served until 2009. Joseph Tracy II later won Indiana's Senate seat in 2008 and still serves that seat currently Joseph I's daughter, Paige, currently works in her brother's successful political campaigns.