World War II Honoree

Joseph E. Hendy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Xenia, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JULY 6, 1942 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF MAIL CLERK (056). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON APRIL 2, 1943 WITH HIS UNIT, THE 133RD FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 36TH ‘LONE STAR’ INFANTRY DIVISION, BOUND FOR THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AFTER FURTHER TRAINING, PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT AT PAESTUM IN THE GULF OF SALERNO, ITALY, AND FOUGHT THROUGH THE NAPLES-FOGGIA AND ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGNS. ON AUGUST 15, 1945, PARTICIPATED IN ANOTHER AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE RAPHAEL FREJUS AREA OF SOUTHERN FRANCE AND FOUGHT ON THROUGH THAT AND THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. LAST UNIT OF ASSIGNMENT WAS COMPANY C, 422ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE ON OCTOBER 9, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE ARROWHEADS AND 1 SILVER BATTLE STAR, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.