Joseph Ogrinc
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Joseph P. Ogrinc entered the Army on Oct. 3, 1942.
He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant and served with Company C, 833rd Automatic Weapons Battalion, as a training instructor in anti-aircraft artillery and enemy plane identification.
After allied forces controlled the air, he was sent to infantry school for ground troop training and leadership. He was assigned to the 76th Infantry Division as a platoon leader, serving in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He took part in the Rhine crossing into Germany and pursuit of enemy until he was wounded in action on March 26, 1945.
He was hospitalized in Paris, and upon recovery he was sent to southern France and administered a camp for German prisoners of war. At the end of the war in Europe he was processed for assignment to the China-Burma-India theater. However, when the Pacific war ended he was reassigned to process and return German POWs to their own communities.
Mr. Ogrinc received the: Purple Heart, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with two bronze battle stars, American Campaign Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was discharged on Sept. 18, 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 228.
