World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Joseph Clayton Reaser
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
Honored By
A Grateful American
He served as a First Lieutenant (later obtaining rank of Captain) in WWII with the 30th Infantry Division (Old Hickory), 120th Infantry Regiment, in the European Theater of Operations. His awards include Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Combat Infantry Badge with Four Battle Stars. On 6 August 1944, his unit was in action against German forces when the 30th Infantry Division relieved the 1st Infantry Division near Mortain, France in what became known as the Mortain Counterattack. The German drive to Avranches began shortly after. The 30th Division clashed with the elite 1st SS Panzer Division, and fierce fighting in place with all available personnel broke out. The 30th Division frustrated German plans and broke the spearhead of the enemy assault in a violent struggle from 7–12 August. His courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.