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World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Joseph L. Pluta, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

AFTER GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL HE JOINED THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AND IN 1943 HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND BECAME AN M-1 RIFLE SHARPSHOOTER. HE WAS INVOLVED IN FIGHTING IN THE ARDENNES FOREST. ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 HE WAS WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE. ARMY MEDICS PICKED HIM UP AND TRIED TO WARM HIM BUT THE COLD WAS SO BRUTAL THAT LITTLE HELPED. THEY PUT HIM ATOP THE HOOD OF A JEEP SO THAT THE ENGINE HEAT COULD HELP PREVENT FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA. HE WAS AWARDED A PURPLE HEART.