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| Major Joseph Ward served in the 489th Anti-Aircraft Battalion in the European Theater for ten months. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56304968/joseph-hester-ward http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=11930 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/397513104592417837/ |
Joseph H. Ward never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on June 10, 1918 in Alabama. His parents John and Jettie were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a physician who died when Joseph was six years old. His widowed mother worked as a public school teacher. Joseph had three older sisters. By 1940 Joseph was a cadet at West Point. He graduated in 1941. Shortly thereafter he married Beatrice Marie Dunne. They had one son.
During the war he rose to the rank of major in the 489th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.
Major Ward's unit was attached to the 4th Armored Division and he took part in their full involvement beginning in Normandy in July 1944. It took part in Operation Cobra that finally broke the German defenses in Normandy, the race across France, Lorraine, the Saar River, and the Battle of the Bulge. After that it fought all the way from Luxembourg City, through Germany, ending up in Czechoslovakia.
While in service he was award the Bronze Star, the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star, and the Silver Star.
The action of Major Ward was heroic and daring. His behavior under fire and his disregard for his own personal safety in his endeavor to serve his country reflects the finest traditions of the service...
The action referred to in the foregoing citation was one in which Joe destroyed five enemy vehicles and insured the ultimate destruction of an entire column.
Major Ward took part of the whole 4th AD campaign until April 5, 1945 when he was killed in action that earned him a Bronze star.
Such conspicuous courage by Major Ward, above and beyond the call of duty is meritorious. In this case Joe had braved small arms, machine gun, mortar and tank fire to rescue and bring to safety a wounded American soldier of a neighboring cavalry unit. Joe met his death in the manner to be expected of a soldier who earned such citations. In a forward, exposed area Joe was struck and instantly killed by enemy artillery fire.
Thank you Jospeh for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Joseph.
Last year on this date I profiled submariner Benie Polidori, USS Shark. You can read about Bennie here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His grave is at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.
Last year on this date I profiled submariner Benie Polidori, USS Shark. You can read about Bennie here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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ReplyDeleteMy Father, George King, served under Major Ward and the 2 became close friends. My dad was a radio operator on a half track assigned to the 489th AAA Battalion attached to the 4th Armored Division, and he told me that Major Ward would visit him often. My Dad was with Major Ward when he was killed, and my Dad described Major Ward's death to me in detail, always getting emotional when he did. Major Ward was killed by artillery fire on April 5, 1945 inside the Ohdruf Nord Concentration Camp. My Dad, Major Ward and the Major's driver found the camp on April 3, 1945. The 489th was moved to the camp and came under heavy artillery fire the day he was killed. My Dad described him as a true leader and a fearless man.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was Joseph Hester Ward. I am named after him. My father, John Hester Ward, inspired by his father whom he never met, graduated West Point in ‘64 and later served in Vietnam.
DeleteThere’s a good chance that I may have met your father, George King during a reunion of the 489th AAA Battalion that my father brought me to back when I was in Junior High school. My dad felt immense pride in his own father’s service and wanted me to meet the men that knew my grandfather best...and I was and will always be forever grateful for that opportunity. They are all true heroes.
Meeting the men of the 489th AAA Battalion that day filled me with the same
level of pride and admiration for their dedication and sacrifice. Being able to talk with people who actually knew and served with Joseph H. Ward was truly a gift to both my father and me.
Thank you, George for sharing your father’s memories here and I thank your father for his service, dedication and for sharing his memories of my grandfather with you as my dad had always done with me. I wish I could have met my grandfather (and my dad his father) so reading your words today helps put his life and death into focus for me. Thank you!
My grandfather was Joseph Hester Ward. I am named after him. My father, John Hester Ward, inspired by his father whom he never met, graduated West Point in ‘64 and later served in Vietnam.
DeleteThere’s a good chance that I may have met your father, George King during a reunion of the 489th AAA Battalion that my father brought me to back when I was in Junior High school. My dad felt immense pride in his own father’s service and wanted me to meet the men that knew my grandfather best...and I was and will always be forever grateful for that opportunity. They are all true heroes.
Meeting the men of the 489th AAA Battalion that day filled me with the same
level of pride and admiration for their dedication and sacrifice. Being able to talk with people who actually knew and served with Joseph H. Ward was truly a gift to both my father and me.
Thank you, George for sharing your father’s memories here and I thank your father for his service, dedication and for sharing his memories of my grandfather with you as my dad had always done with me. I wish I could have met my grandfather (and my dad his father) so reading your words today helps put his life and death into focus for me. Thank you!
Joseph,
DeleteDo you want to add your grandfather's story to the www.storiesbehindthestars.org project?
Hello Joseph. It make me very happy that what I posted helped in some way. My Dad always told stories of the "good" times during the war (if there was such a thing), and your Grandfather was included in many of those tales. He shared these stories with me and my sisters, and later his Grandchildren. I can tell you that my 3 sons all know of your Grandfather, always referring to him as Major Ward. My Dad once told me that he wants to pass the stories along because as long as people remember you and tell your stories, in some way you live on. I can assure you that in our family Major Ward lives on, and is spoken of with respect and reverence.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad went on to become a Police Officer in Kearny NJ, retiring in 1987 as a Deputy Police Chief. I followed in his footsteps and currently serve as Chief of the Kearny Police Department. My Dad passed in 2015 at the age of 91 and is remembered fondly and his stories and legacy live on. I did find some of his military photos after he passed and don't know the men he was with in the photos. Maybe one is your Grandfather?
Wow. Photographs? Is there a way to scan and email to me? Ottobahnsays@gmail.com.
DeleteI found an old picture online in someone’s site. Scrolling through I found one that I think shows my grandfather: Maj. Joseph Hester Ward. How do I post or share the photo?
DeleteYou can send an email to don@storiesbehindthestars.org. Do you want to add your grandfather's story to the www.storiesbehindthestars.org project?
DeleteThank you. Yes, I’d love to add the story. Is this something I need to write?
Delete@ George King, Jr. . Photographs potentially of Joseph H. Ward? Is there a way to scan and email to me? Ottobahnsays@gmail.com.
ReplyDelete