Soldier · Author · Advocate
About
Joe Troutman
A retired U.S. Army combat veteran preserving the stories, sacrifices, and brotherhood of the generation with whom he served.
Service at a Glance
The Man Behind the Story
Service shaped the soldier. Brotherhood shaped the author.
Joe Troutman never originally set out to become an author. He set out to ensure that the men of Blackhawk Company—and what they accomplished together—would not be forgotten.
Joe served eighteen years on active duty in the United States Army as a 13F Fire Support Specialist and Forward Observer. His military career included multiple deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
From 2001 through 2005, Joe served with Blackhawk Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment as the company’s Fire Support Non-Commissioned Officer. He witnessed the unit’s transformation into part of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade and served alongside its soldiers during their combat deployment to Iraq.
The experiences of Blackhawk Company—its training, tragedy, combat, courage, and enduring brotherhood—eventually became the foundation for Gods of War: The Legend of Blackhawk Company 1/23 Infantry.
Active-Duty Soldier
Eighteen years of service in the United States Army.
Forward Observer
Served as a 13F Fire Support Specialist and Forward Observer.
Combat Veteran
Completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blackhawk Company
Served as the company’s Fire Support NCO from 2001–2005.
I became the custodian of our story—a title and honor I do not enter lightly, nor take for granted.
— Joe Troutman
Why He Wrote
A record for the soldiers and the generations that follow.
Joe spent more than a year researching the deployment, collecting different perspectives, and interviewing soldiers who were willing to share their memories.
The result is more than a personal memoir. It is an attempt to preserve a shared history and recognize the character, professionalism, courage, and sacrifice of the soldiers who served together.
Joe continues to advocate for the warfighters of his generation—and for the importance of telling their stories honestly.
The Continuing Mission
The war ended. The responsibility to remember did not.
Combat leaves a lasting mark—not only on those who fought, but also on their families and the communities to which they return. Joe’s work gives readers a firsthand understanding of that experience while honoring the soldiers who carried it.
His mission today is grounded in legacy, advocacy, brotherhood, and remembrance.
Hear Joe Tell the Story →
Read the Book
Discover the story Joe fought to preserve.
Follow Blackhawk Company from its transformation into the Stryker Brigade through its combat deployment and the battles that forged its legacy.
Buy on Amazon ↗