Joseph Natale

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Bio

Joseph Carmine Natale (“Joe”) is a first-generation American, born on March 26, 1930, in Newark, New Jersey, USA, of Italian immigrant parents. He lived at 289 Walnut Street and was one of eleven children . Joseph was raised in and actively practiced the Roman Catholic faith. He graduated from 8th grade and completed two and a half years of the local high school’s academic curriculum before leaving school to help support his family. His last civilian position before entering military service was in 1949, as a stock clerk at the Automatic Manufacturing Company in Newark, New Jersey. Joseph Natale, Selective Service Number 28 16 30 181, received the news that he had been drafted at his home in Newark. He said he was proud to serve his country because his older brother Russell had served in World War II, and he looked up to him and admired his service. He was inducted into the military on October 15, 1951 (DHRS, New York, NY), and was appointed to the rank of private first class in the United States Marine Corps.

Joe trained first at Paris Island and was then sent for advanced weapons training at Camp Pendleton. From there, Joe traveled by troop transport carrier to Kobe, Japan, and then to Korea after a short layover.

While in Korea, Joe was a proof tech for small arms. He served at locations such as Incheon, The “Hook”, and “Bunker Hill”. On August 13, 1952, while engaging in combat as a portable tripod machine gunner responding to mortar attacks in order to secure a critical location, Joe was wounded in action at Chang-Dan by mortar fire in the shoulder and chest. He subsequently received the Purple Heart for his actions.

Photos

Joe's Geneva Convention Card