World War II Honoree

Joel Hallman Radcliffe

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Aiken, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

ON FEBRUARY 19, 1942, HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE U.S. ARMY. AFTER TRAINING STATESIDE, HE DEPARTED FOR EUROPE ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 AS A COMPANY COMMANDER IN THE 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION. AGAINST HEAVY RESISTANCE, THE DIVISION ELIMINATED THE RUHR POCKET IN GERMANY, AFTER WHICH IT RE-TOOK PARTS OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA BEFORE BEING DEPLOYED TO JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. WHEN THE DIVISION WAS DEACTIVATED ON MARCH 31, 1946, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON APRIL 15, 1946.