Published: May 09, 2008 07:55 am         

Veteran with Pulaski ties awarded medals

Community News

On March 31, 2008, Arnold W. Joseph, 87, was awarded seven U.S. Army medals and was re-presented the British Empire medal for his meritorious service during World War II.

Joseph is the father of Julie Joseph-Fox and grand-father of Emily Fox of Pulaski County and currently resides at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore, Ky.

Joseph was presented the British Empire Medal from the Order of the British Empire for his service during the war as an encoder.

Among his duties was the encoding of correspondence between Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery throughout the war and encoding the D-Day orders for the invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944.

In addition to the British Empire Medal, Joseph was awarded Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and two badges for marksmanship – Expert Badge with Auto Rifle Bar and Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

Joseph should have received his prestigious medals for valor and service at the end of World War II, but the scarcity of metal postponed their receipt. Through the diligence and committed research of Lt. John Rudd (chaplain at Thomson-Hood) and VFW member James Vannoy, the oversight was discovered and the now aged World War II veteran’s service to his country was finally acknowledged.

Joseph’s journey to Wilmore took many turns – especially dramatic was his entry into the United States as a refugee – arriving in New York City from Nazi Germany when he was only a 10-year-old little boy.

Through the help of a Lutheran minister who arranged passage to America on a steamer with only two lemons in his pocket (to stave off scurvy), Joseph survived, but lost all his family in a German concentration camp.

Though not yet a citizen, Joseph later volunteered to serve his adopted country in the United States Army and was sent to France where he earned his badges as a marksman.

He was later transferred to Manchester, England, where he met his future wife, Margaret M. Joseph – one of the first “war brides” from World War II.

The British base commander assisted Joseph in attaining his United States citizenship and together the young couple and a baby daughter (Susan) returned to the United States where they were to have two more little girls, Julie and Nancy.

It is said that World War II veterans are dying at a rate of 1,000 per day. In not too many years those who remember “the great war” will be gone.

But this veteran had his day. Although it was long overdue, a grateful nation at last expressed its thanks.

     

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