World War II Honoree

Joseph D. Cornwell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Conyers, Georgia

Honored By

Maxine Cornwell

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL CITATION: CAPTAIN JOSEPH D. CORNWELL, DENTAL CORPS, 119TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, UNITED STATES ARMY, IS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION ON JULY 25, 1944 IN FRANCE. CAPTAIN CORNWELL WAS SERVING WITH THE MEDICAL DETACHMENT OF AN INFANTRY REGIMENT ENGAGED IN AN OFFENSIVE OPERATION. PART OF THE PREPARATIONS FOR A LARGE SCALE ATTACK INCLUDED AERIAL BOMBARDMENT BY ALLIED PLANES. SOME OF THE BOMBS FELL SHORT, INFLICTING CASUALTIES IN THE RANKS OF OUR FORCES. WITH AND VOLUNTARILY MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE IN THE AREA WHILE THE BOMBS WERE STILL FALLING IN ORDER TO RENDER FIRST AID TO THE CASUALTIES. AMONG HIS OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HE ASSISTED IN SAVING FOUR MEN FROM CERTAIN DEATH BY SUFFOCATION WHEN THEY HAD BEEN BURIED ALIVE. THE ACTIONS OF CAPTAIN CORNWELL SERVED AS AN INSPIRATION FOR THE MEN OF HIS MEDICAL DETACHMENT AND THE REGIMENT. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE FROM GEORGIA.