World War II Honoree

Joseph N. Fineberg

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

HE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND JOINED THE ARMY SHORTLY AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. HE WENT OVERSEAS IN MAY 1942, AS A PRIVATE. HE RECEIVED A BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT DURING THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. HE WAS WITH THE LEGENDARY 'DARBY'S RANGERS' IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, AFTER HAVING SERVED AS A MEDIC IN AFRICA. IN ITALY, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR DARBY'S RANGERS AND WAS PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT AS THE RANGERS FOUGHT AT SORRENTO, LANDED AT ANZIO AND WORKED THEIR WAY UP THE PENINSULA TOWARD ROME. AS THE SUPPLY OFFICER FOR THE 4TH RANGER BATTALION. HE WAS A RANGER HUSTLER. HE GOT 2 SNIPER RIFLES FOR EVERY COMPANY, SPRINGFIELD 03S, WITH TELESCOPES. HE WAS LATER PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN. HE DISCOVERED THAT GERMAN TROOPS HAD DISGUISED THEMSELVES AS MONKS, WERE OCCUPYING CHURCHES AND USING THE BELLS TO SIGNAL ARTILLERY ATTACKS. THEY WERE QUICKLY ROOTED OUT. WHEN HE FINALLY RETURNED HOME FOR GOOD, HE WAS ASSIGNED BY THE WAR PRODUCTION BOARD TO TOUR DEFENSE PLANTS TO TELL THE WORKERS HOW MUCH THEIR LABORS MEANT TO THE TROOPS IN BATTLE. HE RECEIVED THREE BATTLEFIELD COMMISSIONS AS AN ARMY RANGER AND THE BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR, AMONG OTHER DECORATIONS.