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name
BALE, Joseph Louis - Date of
birth
14 January 1924 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan -
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16105122 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
HQ & HQ Company,
2nd Battalion,
7th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Distinguished Service Cross,
Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 January 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Horbourg-Wihr-en-Plaine, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 34 | 56 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Maurice I. Bale (father)
Edith (Pearlman) Bale (mother)
Theodore Bale (brother)
More information
Pfc Joseph L. Bale was employed by the Baker Shoe Company before he enlisted in March 1943.He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his actions on 30 January 1945. The citation cited: On that date Pvt Bale's battalion was attacked and halted by enemy tanks, which rolled over the assault riflemen and killed others. With 88-mm machine gun fire and rifle grenade fire, Pfc Bale fearlessly attacked with his rocket launcher, ignoring shells exploding five yards away and machine gun bullets which raked the position, he knocked out an enemy tank, forcing the Germans to withdraw. Later the same morning when his Battalion Operations was attacked by another tank at 100 yards, he braved shell fire in a single-handed attempt to destroy it, but was mortally wounded.
Source of information: Leo Minne, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card, History 3rd Infantry Division WWII
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy / Hudson Louis / Ziv Ben Moshe