World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Joseph M. Watkins
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY JANUARY 11, 1940 AT PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 1ST SQUAD, 2ND PLATOON, FOX COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN IN THE VICINITY OF VEGHEL, HOLLAND AND DIED SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1944. HE IS BURIED IN THE HENRI-CHAPELLE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT HENRI-CHAPELLE, BELGIUM. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.