World War II Honoree

Joe Vernon Whiteman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH AN ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION IN THE 7TH ARMORED DIVISION. STAGED FROM CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK FROM MAY 2, 1944 UNTIL SAILING OVERSEAS FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 7, 1944. ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JUNE 13, 1944 AND LANDED IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON AUGUST 11, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF CHARTRES, ATTACKED AND HELPED ESTABLISH A BRIDGEHEAD ACROSS THE SEINE RIVER AND THEN TOOK PART IN THE DRIVE TO THE MARNE RIVER, CROSSED IT AND THEN ASSISTED IN FORCING THE MOSELLE RIVER AFTER HEAVY COMBAT. IN SEPTEMBER, 1944, ATTACKED AGAINST HEAVY OPPOSITION FROM OPLOO, HOLLAND TO HELP CLEAR A CORRIDOR WEST OF THE MAAS RIVER. FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF PEEL MARSHES AND OVERLOON IN OCTOBER, 1944. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, ATTACKED THROUGH MINES AND DEEP SNOW TOWARD ST. VITH, BELGIUM TO HELP STOP THE GERMAN ADVANCE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP, AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN IN LATE 1945.