Joseph William Smaltz, Jr.
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
SMALTZ Jr., Joseph William
Joseph William Smaltz, Jr. was born on April 6th 1919 to Joseph & Carolyn Amenza [Bradach] Smaltz in Chisholm, Minnesota.
Mr. Smaltz entered the Army Air Corps on September 2nd 1942, at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Chisholm,
He served as a radar operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company Squadron of the 86th Fighter Wing in the Pacific Theater in Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Southern Philippines, and Luzon. He rose in rank to Private First Class (PFC)
PFC Smaltz earned the following merits for his service:
- Good Conduct Medal,
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 bronze battle stars,
- World War II Victory Medal,
- five overseas service bars,
- Bronze Arrowhead, -and-
- Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 bronze star.
He was honorably discharged on December 5th 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After the war he returned home and married Ione G. [Gamache] Smaltz and they tried to start and family.
Mr. Smaltz died on December 23rd 1995 at 76 years of age. He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 299.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Smaltz, Joseph William in U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 - Fold3
Joseph William Smaltz (1919-1995) - Find a Grave Memorial
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 - Ancestry.com
