World War II Honoree

Joseph A. Garry, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Albany, New York

Honored By

M. J. Lynett

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 376TH HEAVY BOMBARDMENT GROUP KNOWN AS 'THE LIBERANDOS.' PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT, WAS AN ARMORER-GUNNER, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND AERIAL GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR. PARTICIPATED IN THE TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN, SICILIAN CAMPAIGN, NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN, AIR COMBAT BALKANS CAMPAIGN AND THE PLOESTI AIR RAID CAMPAIGN. ON A MISSION DURING THE BALKANS AIR OFFENSIVE, HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER GREECE AND HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION FOR THREE MONTHS. HE EVADED CAPTURE AND REJOINED HIS GROUP IN SAN PANCRAZIO, ITALY. HE WAS AWARDED THE EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE AND ONE SILVER BATTLE STARS; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND A UNIT BADGE WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER.