World War II Honoree

Joseph T. Forney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

Honored By

Joe Conway

Relationship

Friend

LIEUTENANT, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE. JUMPED INTO NORMANDY WITH B COMPANY, 501ST AT D-DAY. JUMPED INTO VEGHEL, HOLLAND IN OPERATION MARKET GARDEN IN CHARGE OF THE 81MM MORTAR OF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. WOUNDED TWICE IN HOLLAND. TRUCKED INTO BASTOGNE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF COMPANY G. WOUNDED AGAIN AND CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR IN STALAG PRISONS IN HAMMELBURG AND MOOSEBURG. RETIRED AS A MAJOR. SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICA-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL,WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, SENIOR PARACHUTIST BADGE, COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE WITH 2 STARS, FRENCH FOURRAGERE, BELGIUM FOURRAGERE, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE, NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD-ORDER OF WILLIAM, DISTINGUISHED UNIT EMBLEM HQ FUSA 1944, ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL.