World War II Honoree

Joseph Henry Hairston

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Martinsville, Virginia

Honored By

Charles Henry Atkinson

JOINED THE U.S. ARMY IN 1941 AND AFTER COMPLETING BASIC TRAINING, ATTENDED AND PASSED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL BECOMING A 2ND LIEUTENANT. THEN HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 92ND DIVISION, THE RECENTLY REACTIVATED 'BUFFALO SOLDIERS' AND SENT TO BE TRAINED IN ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA. WHEN THE 92ND SHIPPED AND ARRIVED IN ITALY OCTOBER 1944, THEY WERE SENT STRAIGHT TO THE FRONT LINE. LATER HE WAS ASSIGNED TO AN ARTILLERY UNIT BUT WHEN THEY FIRST ENCOUNTERED ENEMY FIRE, HIS BATTERY COMMANDER LEFT HIM IN CHARGE AND WENT TO THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF UNIT HEADQUARTERS. HE FOUND HIMSELF IN CHARGE OF CHARLEY BATTERY, A FOUR GUN ARTILLERY UNIT UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK BY ENEMY MORTAR AND ARTILLERY BARRAGE.