World War II Honoree

Joseph B. Rak

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Coraopolis, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A CAVALRY OFFICER OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WITH TROOP B, 94TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON MECHANIZED, 14TH ARMORED ‘LIBERATORS’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. SECOND LIEUTENANT RAK WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT NEAR HERXHEIM, GERMANY DURING OPERATIONS IN THE RHINELAND ON MARCH 23, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.