World War II Honoree

Joseph Barta

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

North Hollywood, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fireman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy November 22, 1940 at Los Angeles, California, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. After completing boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Utah Battleship, BB-31 for duty as a Fireman, and based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands. On Sunday Morning, December 7, 1941 the Emperor of Japan’s Naval Aviators launched a devastating, surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base and other military installation on Oahu. The Battleship along with her shipmates was moored on Ford Island, when the warship was attacked by two Torpedo Bombers. She was hit by two torpedo warheads causing severe flooding, and slowly settled to the bottom of the bay. Reported missing in action, lost at sea on the day of the attack. His name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.