World War II Honoree

Joseph Beyrle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Toccoa, Georgia

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS THE ONLY SOLDIER TO FIGHT FOR BOTH THE U.S. AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION DURING WWII. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PARATROOPERS TO LAND IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 5, 1944, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE D-DAY INVASION. THE GERMANS CAPTURED HIM SHORTLY AFTER HE LANDED. HE ESCAPED FROM A PRISON CAMP IN POLAND IN JANUARY, 1945 AND JOINED A SOVIET TANK UNIT HEADED FOR BERLIN. HE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THE UNIT FOR A MONTH, UNTIL HE WAS WOUNDED. ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR HIM TO REJOIN U.S. FORCES. HIS SERVICE TO THE TWO COUNTRIES DURING THE WAR EARNED HIM MEDALS FROM PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN IN 1994 ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY.