Joe Camp was born on January 11, 1941, in Gainesville, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 28, 1958, and completed basic training in April 1958. Seaman Camp next attended Radioman A School from August 1958 to January 1959, and then served in the Fleet until attending Underwater Demolition Team Replacement (UDTR) training with Class 29 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, from January to June 1963. RMC Camp served with SEAL Team TWO at NAB Little Creek from June 1963 until his retirement from the Navy on November 3, 1977. During this time he deployed to South Vietnam with his Team from January to June 1967 and from April to October 1968. After his retirement from the Navy, Joe was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. He served in the Directorate of Operations with the CIA as a Clandestine Operations Officer in Nicaragua as part of President Anastasio Somoza DeBayle's government. It is believed that he was killed in Nicaragua in June 1978, but the exact details of his death or place of burial are unknown.

His 2nd Bronze Star Medal w/Valor Citation reads:

For meritorious achievement in connection with operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force in the Republic of Vietnam from 1 April 1968 to 1 October 1968. As the advisor to the Provincial Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) in Phong Dinh Province, Petty Officer CAMP training and directed a force of over 140 combatants designed to gather intelligence on and neutralize the Viet Cong in the province of his responsibility. During his tour, he not only planned, coordinated, and directed intelligence and small unit reaction operations for the PRU but also provided advice to many senior officers in all services as to how these operations could be supported by each service. Petty Officer CAMP's efforts contributed to making the Phong Dinh PRU the most productive and respected unit in the province and his unceasing efforts to encourage the use of paramilitary operations by other units in the province earned the respect and admiration of all personnel with which he had dealings. Petty Officer CAMP's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Petty Officer CAMP is authorized to wear the Combat "V".