World War II Honoree

Joseph 'Bazooka Joe' Pietroforte

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR ENTRY-LEVEL 'BASIC TRAINING' AND THEN FOR ADVANCED MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) INFANTRY QUALIFICATION. SERVED DURING THE WAR WITH THE 1ST INFANTRY 'BIG RED ONE' DIVISION AND THE 5TH INFANTRY 'RED DIAMOND' DIVISION. SERVED OVERSEAS AS AN INFANTRYMAN, IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), IN GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG, BELGIUM AND AUSTRIA, WITH THE 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY IN COMBAT ACTION AGAINST ENEMY FORCES WHEN HE DISABLED TWO GERMAN TANKS THREATENING TO DESTROY HIS COMPANY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE UNIT PLAQUE (MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION) FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE BY HIS UNIT DURING SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY FORCES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.