World War II Honoree

Joseph J. Eldracher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

John W. & Julia A. Kroft

Relationship

Brother-in-law & Sister-in-law

MAJOR. ALIAS 'LOCK AND LOAD' AS WAS HIS FREQUENT INSTRUCTION TO HIS TROOPS FOR RIFLE CARE. SERVED 20 YEARS IN THE ARMY, PRIMARILY IN INFANTRY. ASSIGNED TO BEHIND-ENEMY-LINES COMMUNICATIONS AND FRONT LINE COMBAT IN WWII AND KOREA. DURING WWII HE WAS IN CAMPAIGNS IN FRANCE, NORMANDY, RHINELAND, GERMANY, CENTRAL EUROPE AND JAPAN. IN 20 YEARS OF SERVICE HE AND HIS FAMILY MOVED OVER 23 TIMES. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES WERE PLATOON LEADER, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, INFANTRY UNIT COMMANDER (KOREA) AND ADJUTANT GENERAL (KOREA). AWARDS AND DECORATIONS FOR WWII INCLUDE THE OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO BRONZE STAR WITH VALOR, 2ND OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, 2ND COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY AND JAPAN) AND AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON (GROUND COMBAT).