World War II Honoree

James Joseph Walsh , Sr.

Hometown

Sharon, Pennsylvania

Honored By

James Joseph Walsh, Jr.

Relationship

Son

HE WORKED FOR THE U.S. STEEL CORPORATION IN FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA. BECAUSE THE RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED PRODUCTS OF STEEL-MAKING ARE VERY HEAVY, A PLANT MUST HAVE ITS SEPARATE RAILROAD SYSTEM TO MOVE MATERIALS DURING THE PROCESS. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF HIS EMPLOYER'S SYSTEM. DURING THE 1930S, ALL STEEL MILLS IN THE U.S. HAD DETERIORATED BECAUSE OF RUSTING. ABOUT 1938, AS THE COUNTRY PREPARED FOR WAR, OLD MILLS HAD TO RETURN TO OPERATING AT 100% CAPACITY. OLD EQUIPMENT BROKE DOWN FREQUENTLY. NEW EMPLOYEES HAD TO BE HIRED AND TRAINED TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY. AS A RESULT, HE WORKED 7 DAYS WEEKLY, 10 TO 16 HOURS DAILY. HIS HEALTH BEGAN TO FAIL DUE TO OVER-WORK AND STRESS. WHEN HE WAS TOLD HE HAD TO SLOW DOWN PHYSICALLY, HIS RESPONSE WAS, 'THE JOB HAS TO BE DONE'. HE FINALLY COLLAPSED AT WORK AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. HE WAS PARTIALLY PARALYZED AND COULD NOT SPEAK. HOWEVER, HIS SUPERIORS STILL NEEDED HIS HELP AND CAME TO HIS HOME TO GET IT. HE COULDN'T SPEAK, SO HIS ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS HAD TO BE HANDWRITTEN. DURING HIS SHORT, REMAINING LIFETIME, HE FINISHED TRAINING OTHERS TO DO HIS JOB. HE DIED AT AGE 45 OF A MEDICALLY-PREDICTED, SECOND STROKE. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY JUST AS SURELY AS IF HE'D WORN A MILITARY SERVICE UNIFORM. HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE GRATEFUL THAT HIS SERVICE MAY NOW BE RECOGNIZED.