World War II Honoree

Joseph B. Yuhas

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jessup, Pennsylvania

Honored By

A Grateful American

SERVED WITH THE 36TH TEXAS INFANTRY DIVISION, ACHIEVING THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. THE 36TH DIVISION WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN UNITS TO ENTER COMBAT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, LANDING IN NORTH AFRICA IN 1943 A FULL YEAR BEFORE THE ALLIED D-DAY INVASION OF FRANCE. HE WAS A HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER AND SAW ACTION IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY, ITALY, FRANCE AND GERMANY. ON DECEMBER 12, 1944 NEAR THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED TOWN OF ALSACE, FRANCE, HE TOOK DECISIVE ACTION BY SEIZING CONTROL OF A HOUSE SETTING UP HIS MACHINE GUN IN SUPPORT OF AN AMERICAN ATTACK. HOSTILE TROOPS ULTIMATELY SURROUNDED THE HOUSE INFLICTING CONCENTRATED RIFLE, GRENADE AND SMALL ARMS FIRE. DEMANDING SURRENDER HE REFUSED AND HE RALLIED HIS SQUAD, KEEPING THEM WELL ORGANIZED UNTIL SAFE WITHDRAWAL UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS WAS POSSIBLE. FOR HIS COURAGEOUS ACTIONS HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR DURING HIS MILITARY SERVICE HE EARNED AN ADDITIONAL BRONZE STAR WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS.