World War II Honoree

Joseph Edmund Welch

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Selma, Alabama

Honored By

Edith C. Welch

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ON JULY 6, 1942 AND WAS TAKEN INTO THE V12 COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM ON JULY 1, 1943 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA IN CHAPEL HILL. UPON GRADUATION IN JUNE 1944, HE WAS SENT TO 'BOOT CAMP' AT PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA THEN TO OFFICER'S CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA RECEIVING A COMMISSION AS SECOND LIEUTENANT ON MARCH 28, 1945. SENT TO CAMP LEJEUNE THEN TO CAMP PENDLETON IN CALIFORNIA SHIPPING OUT TO GUAM IN JULY 1945. TROOPS WERE ASSEMBLED AT GUAM FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. ASSIGNED AS A PLATOON LEADER IN THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION. UPON JAPAN'S SURRENDER, HIS UNIT WAS SENT TO CHINA AS A SECURITY FORCE SERVING AS MILITARY POLICE. RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN MAY 1946 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MARINE CORPS ON JUNE 7, 1946 IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.