World War II Honoree

Joseph Petitgoue

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Galena, Illinois

Honored By

Amelia Boeche

Relationship

Great Granddaughter

ENTERED SERVICE IN JANUARY 1944, AND WENT OVERSEAS IN JULY 1944. HE ENTERED INTO COMBAT IN ST. LO, FRANCE ON JULY 28, 1944. HE WAS PART OF THE 112TH INFANTRY, 28TH DIVISION (BLOODY BUCKETS), COMPANY B, WHERE HE WAS A RIFLEMAN AND A 'WALKIE TALKIE 4 MESSENGER'. HE COULD SPEAK BOTH ENGLISH AND FRENCH. ON NOVEMBER 7, 1944 HE WAS CAPTURED OUTSIDE OF SCHMIDT IN THE HUERTGEN FORREST BY THE GERMANS. SIX SOLDIERS SURVIVED BY HIDING ON A GERMAN FARM IN AN UNDERGROUND COOKING OVEN, WHERE THEY WERE FOUND AND TAKEN PRISONER. HE WAS TAKEN BY BOXCAR NORTH TO PRISON CAMP STALAG II-A. HE WAS LIBERATED MAY 2, 1945 AT 1:25 PM BY THE RUSSIANS DURING A SPEARHEAD DRIVE AT WISMER. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES ON JUNE 12, 1945 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY ON OCTOBER 18, 1945 AS A SERGEANT.