Army Spc. Joey Banegas served overseas tours of duty in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. In October 2004, Banegas was wounded in action. The wound he suffered caused him to lose part of a leg.

These photos are from a homecoming celebration at the Las Cruces Hilton that his wife Jennifer and their new family friend Belinda Romero organized. The celebration was a surprise to Joey, and I was touched in a very personal way while I was at this celebration. I was touched on a deeper, emotional level than I thought I would have been.

While I was photographing, I couldn’t help but think of this man and his sacrifice he made for the country, as well as the thousands of others who have been wounded or killed serving in the military in recent years. This celebration made war a reality for those who attended – not the least of all, myself.

-Josh Bachman