World War II Honoree

Joseph Stanley Pietras

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Chester, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Hilary Bingnear

Relationship

Niece

ENLISTED IN MARINE CORPS ON JUNE 25, 1941 AT THE AGE OF 20. WAS STATIONED IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND BEFORE THE START OF THE WAR. WAS SCHEDULED TO BE ONBOARD THE USS HORNET BUT FORTUNATELY COULD NOT FIND THE PORT AND MISSED THE SHIP (AS THE SHIP WAS LATER SUNK). THEN WAS ON A MARINE DETACHMENT ABOARD THE USS PHILADELPHIA WHICH WAS KNOWN AS THE GALLOPING GHOST OF THE SICILIAN COAST. HE SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC, ADRIATIC, AND PACIFIC THEATERS. HE PARTICIPATED IN NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS IN THE SAFI FRENCH MOROCCO AS WELL AS IN SICILY, SALERNO, AND ANZIO. AFTER VE DAY HE WAS STATIONED IN HAWAII WITH THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION, 28TH REGIMENT. WHILE THERE FOR 4 MONTHS THEY WERE PREPARING TO INVADE JAPAN. WHILE SAILING OVER TO JAPAN, THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED AND THUS THEY WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TROOPS TO ENTER THE ISLAND AND SEE THE DEVASTATION OF NAGASAKI. BY THE END OF THE WAR WAS PROMOTED TO A STAFF SERGEANT DUE TO HIS QUALIFICATIONS AS A RIFLE SHARPSHOOTER AND PISTOL MARKSMAN.