Volunteer Josh Gehrke Prepares For Uzbekistan

After Several Trips

Abroad, Josh Prepares

For His First With GMR

Josh (pictured right) with a Peruvian firefighter in 2005

14Mar2010  -   "It was culture shock," when Josh was asked how he felt on his first trip abroad.  "It is something to this day that I share with my children.  We take so much for granted at home.  What we have can be taken away in an instant and our 'wants' don't necessarily equal our 'needs'."  Josh Gehrke knows this probably more than most people.  It was in 2007 when Josh, along with his brother in-law were brutally shot in a random act of violence alongside an Oregon highway by an unknown assailant that had been tailgating them.  The two men were on their way home from a day of skiing on Mt. Hood with their kids when the incident occurred.  Josh was critically wounded and spent months in rehabilitation.  The gunman was never found which is something that haunts Josh to this day.  Despite this dark period in his life, he has bounced back physically and is committed more than ever to living life and in his words, "having more purpose-filled trips in the future." 

From early beginnings, Josh wanted to become involved with community service.  He was raised in Gresham, Oregon and graduated from Gresham High School.  Initially with career ambitions of being in law enforcement, he became a member of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team at age 14.  He soon realized that law enforcement was not in his future and began an ascension to a career following his uncle and grandfather's footsteps: A professional firefighter.  After attending Portland Community College's Fire Science Program, Josh landed his dream job in 2001 at Clackamas Fire District #1.  He is employed as a firefighter/paramedic, has served on the District's Urban Search & Rescue Team and has promoted to the rank of Apparatus Operator.

He currently resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, LeaAnn, son Nathan, 12, daughters Emily, 9 and Megan, 7.

In May, Josh will depart for Tashkent, Uzbekistan to teach first aid skills to the fire department rescuers in the city.  He will have the added responsibility of being the Uzbekistan Team Leader, handling the curriculum and ensuring the details of the mission.  "It's a huge level of commitment," states Josh, "not only with the course material, but also with ensuring the overall success of the mission."  Traveling with Josh will be team members, Greg Smith and Tim Barbknecht.  The group will depart on May 1st.