World War II Honoree

Joseph J. Geller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

In June, 1941, he was commissioned in the Organized Reserve Corps and was called to active duty in July, 1942. As Battalion Surgeon, he served with the first organized division of Army troops to take over from the Marines on Guadalcanal in 1942. Later with the 25th Tropic Lightning Division he participated in the invasion and capturing of New Georgia. After returning to the U.S., he was assigned to Mason General Hospital, Army Neuropsychiatric Center at Brentwood New York, where he served for two and a half years, becoming assistant chief of the Neuropsychiatric Section. As Major in the Medical Corps he was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey on June 29, 1946.