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.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Attending the presentation of medals and the British Empire Medal to Arnold W. Joseph on March 31, 2008, were members of his family: back row, from left, Jeff Sander, Lucia Page-Sander, Susan Page (daughter), Joe Page, Leonard Page; middle row, Katie Page-Sander, Nancy Joseph-Wright (daughter), Mr. Joseph, Daniela Page Sander, Esteban Page Sander, Emily Fox, Julie Joseph-Fox (daughter) and Charlie Fox. Also attending were six very dear friends from Lexington who dined with him at the White Castle Restaurant every morning and every New Year’s Eve. It was a memorable day for all.
Veteran with Pulaski ties awarded medals
Community News
- Local News
-
-
Hal Rogers defends Somerset’s Streetscape project
-
Survey may attract commercial passenger service
-
Somerset on verge of becoming natural gas hub
It sounds like a Buck Rogers fiction series, but it’s true. The city of Somerset is about to become the energy hub of Kentucky, maybe even regionally or nationally.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler, gas company manager Dan Henderson and city engineer Reggie Chaney discussed the grandiose energy network this week with a reporter for the Commonwealth Journal. It’s more than a vision. City officials say it’s about to become reality. -
Old districts are back ... for now
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the legislative redistricting debacle in Frankfort.
Judge Phillip Shepherd in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday tossed out the General Assembly’s controversial redistricting plans and reverted everything back to where it was before. -
Fast-moving blaze guts mobile home off Slate Branch Road
-
Big Bang Theory
Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past. -
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.
-
SCS to host Medal of Honor recipient
The message is clear: There are heroes. Even here in our own hometowns.
That’s the idea organizers hope to get across Saturday night at Somerset Christian School, when Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Dakota Meter speaks to all who choose to attend.
For further questions, ticket purchases, and sponsorship opportunities please contact Susan Adams at (606) 875-0255. -
Newspaper veteran name Publisher of Commonwealth Journal
SOMERSET — A fourth generation newspaperman has been named publisher of the Commonwealth Journal.
Rob McCullough, 50, who started working in a newspaper mailroom when he was 15, officially assumes his duties today. He succeeds Jack McNeely who has accepted a position with the Daily Mountain Eagle in Jasper, Alabama.
-
Blakley receives worldwide honor
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
