Joe was born financially poor, but he worked smart and hard and made a good life. He always bragged that he built the very first apartment in Richland Twp. Joe worked for USS Steel Corporation as a painter and at the same time he also was a Custom home builder and built several homes and apartments. He and Marie, who was also in the Navy, were married in Seattle, Washington on January 9, 1945. He was wounded during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where he received his Purple Heart Medal. He was involved in one battle in North Africa and 13 battles in the Pacific. He was proud that he commissioned the ship in Norfolk, Virginia and served on the same ship until Nagasaki in 1945. In 1942 he joined the US Navy and served on the USS SUWANNEE CVE-27 as a gunner in WWII. After 3 years, he returned to Windber and worked in the mines with his father. He quit school in the 6th grade to enter the CCC camp to help his family financially. He grew up in Windber, PA and had a very colorful childhood, given his large family. Joe was born in Castel, Frentano, Italy and came to the US at the age of 3 1/2. He was surrounded by his children when he died. WWII Veteran, Richland, passed away on Novemat the age of 99.
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