Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
PETULLA, Joseph - Date of
birth
17 February 1926 -
Age
18 - Place of
birth
Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33884467 -
Rank
Private -
Function
unknown -
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
417th Infantry Regiment,
76th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 February 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Echternach, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 16 | 95 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Francesco Petulla (father)
Sarah (Doria) Petulla (mother)
Mary R. Petulla (sister)
Michael Petulla (brother)
Begina Petulla (sister)
Ann Petulla (sister)
Conchetta Petulla (sister)
Fannie Petulla (sister)
Anthony J. Petulla (brother)
More information
Pvt Joseph Petulla attended Osceola Mills High School.He enlisted at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland on 18 April 1944. He received his training at Camp Blanding, Florida.
Per Chaplain Donald J. Carey: "On 9 February 1945, company C made an assault crossing of the Sauer river, near Echternach, Luxembourg, prior to an attack on the Nazis' much-vaunted Siegfried line. This was a particularly hazardous crossing because of the intense artillery, mortar and machine gun fire it was subjected to, and also because the river was swift and at the flood stage. The boat to which your son was assigned capsized in mid-stream after being hit by mortar fire."
His brother-in-law, Pvt John Domack, was killed in October 1944 and is buried at Epinal American Cemetery.
Source of information: André Koch, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men 1940-1947 / Pennsylvania Veteran Compensation Application Files WWII 1950-1966, https://newspaperarchive.com - The Clearfield Progress 20 June 1945 and 9 March 1945, Lake Shore Visitor - 06 July 1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten