World War II Honoree

Joseph H. Randall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A PLATOON LEADER ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, UNITED STATES 1ST RANGER BATTALION, NICKNAMED 'DARBY’S RANGERS, ATTACHED TO THE #4 COMMANDO UNIT, BRITISH ARMY. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1942 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF DIEPPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION JUBILEE, A WWII ALLIED ATTACK ON THE GERMAN-OCCUPIED PORT OF DIEPPE, FRANCE, IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE WAS ONE OF THREE UNITED STATES SOLDIERS TO DIE IN THE FAILED RAID AND WAS BURIED IN THE DIEPPE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, ORIGINALLY CREATED BY THE GERMANS LOCATED AT ST AUBIN-SUR-SCIE, SEINE-MARITIME, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT APRIL 14, 1949 IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, FORT MYER, VIRGINIA. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO THE SOLDIER FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.