Invictus: Josue

Josue Barron joined the Marines at 17 in 2007. October 21, 2010 he was on a foot patrol in Afghanistan when he was injured by an IED.

Ten years later, in the lead up to Josue’s participation in the The Invictus Games, I joined a documentary crew for VICE as we retraced his footsteps at Camp Pendleton with an old friend and fellow wounded marine, trained for the Invictus Games basketball team, and revisited his old home in Los Angles where he looks back on an early gang life – an environment he feels prepared him for war.

  • Client

    VICE

  • Location

    Camp Pendelton - San Diego, California
    Cudahy - Los Angeles, California
Behind Josue is the infamous Camp Pendleton's First Sergeant's Hill. At one time a right of passage for marines in training to climb with upwards of 60lbs on their backs. Today, while it still stands as a proving ground, Josue says the cross's placed at the top to remember fallen heroes makes the challenge especially meaningful.
Walking around Cudahy, Josue remembers countless times running from the police, being shot at by enemy gangs, and his old family home which he says hasn't changed.
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Josue now lives as a retired marine with his wife and three boys. On an evening in January, he brought his family back to where him and his wife first met - Alfredo's.

Kieran Kesner

kierankesner@gmail.com
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