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Personal info

Full name
RYAN, Joseph Arthur
Date of birth
24 July 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Madison, Morris County, New Jersey
Hometown
Madison, Morris County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O1010467
Rank
Captain
Function
unknown
Unit
744th Tank Battalion
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Died of Wounds
Date of death
1 March 1945
Place of death
unknown

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 19 17

Immediate family

Members
Francis J. Ryan (father)
Ida M. (Keefe) Ryan (mother)
Francis J. Ryan (brother)
Thomas G. Ryan (brother)
Ellen M. Ryan (sister)
Winifred Ryan (sister)
John R. Ryan (brother)
Frances (Trimble) Ryan (wife)
Barbara F. Ryan (daughter)
William A. Ryan (son)

More information

Capt Joseph A. Ryan graduated from Rutgers University in 1941 and was employed as a salesperson.

He was inducted in June of 1941. He was selected for Officer's training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Commisioned 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1942 and assigned to the 744th Light Tank Battalion.

He was sent overseas to England in December of 1943. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in January of 1944 and to Captain in April of 1944. He was assigned to General Bradley's 3rd Army and saw action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

While on a minesweeping mission in February 1945 in Holland, the Jeep he was riding in detonated a mine. Captain Ryan succumbed to those wounds.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Ryan Family Tree, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbook