oe was in the Army Reserves at the onset of WWII. He served in Patton's Third Army during the invasion of Europe and the Battle of the Bulge. Joe received the American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the European African Eastern Theater Campaign Victory Medal. In the summer of 2001, he also received a commendation from the French government for his fighting during the occupation of France which he threw in the trash in disgust in how long it had taken the French to recognize American servicemen for fighting and dying for their country's freedom.