World War II Honoree

Joseph Poch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Euclid, Ohio

Honored By

Steve Gorek

Relationship

Second Cousin

SERVED WITH THE 70TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 274TH REGIMENT. ARRIVED EUROPE LATER 1944. ALTHOUGH LACKING THE FULL DIVISION UNITS WERE FORMED INTO A TASK FORCE AND ENGAGED GERMAN UNITS ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE SOUTH FROM BITCHE, PART OF THE GERMAN WINTER OFFENSIVE, TO CUT OFF PORTIONS OF SEVENTH ARMY WEST OF SEVERNE PASS (OPERATION NORDWIND). DURING THE PHILLIPSBOURG ENGAGEMENT, WHILE UNDER HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE, HE ATTEMPTED TO ASSIST WOUNDED COMRADES AND WAS HIT AND KILLED BY A SNIPERS BULLET (1/05/1945). HE WAS BURIED IN EUROPE AND LATER RE-INTERRED AT LAKEVIEW CEMETERY IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.