World War II Honoree

Joseph O. Yauch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 2 FEBRUARY 1943 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED AS AN AMBULANCE ORDERLY, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 696. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 5 DECEMBER 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO THE 496TH MEDICAL COLLECTION COMPANY (SEPARATE) AND SERVED THROUGH NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MEDICAL CORPS AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON 14 DECEMBER 1945 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.