Born in Buena Vista, Mexico, in 1942, Joe Mark Villareal moved to McAllen, Texas, in 1947 and later settled in California. After graduating from Coachella Valley Union High School in 1961, he joined the U.S. Army in 1964, serving as a tank driver during the Vietnam era. His service exposed him to Agent Orange and other harmful chemicals, which took a toll on his health, leading to vision loss in 2013. A proud veteran and resilient spirit, Joe earned his Film Director Certification from Riverside City College in 2017 and now dreams of bringing his story to the screen. Inspired by his life experiences and guided by advice from his therapist, he shares his powerful journey through writing—with hopes to one day see Jerzy Joe on the big screen.