Joseph A Schaaf

  

Joseph A Schaaf was born in November 9th 1925 and was drafted in February 1944 in Fort Meade

He was from Carbondale - PA 

He was Private 1st Class A compagny 383th Infantry regiment 96th Infantry division the “deadeyes"

Here is a summary of the battle days :

1944 in San jose near the Dulag beaches (Leyte island - Phllipines)

“ On October 20, 1944, dawn broke with the quiet beauty, which marks the tropics at their best. The sky was clear and bright and the sea was calm and blue ...

Tanks of the 96th Division approached the beach in their landing craft ready to spearhead the assault. Crouched low in their vehicles, anxious mens awaited  first exposure to enemy fire,

ready to invade the inland of Leyte

They had to take “Catmon Hill” (the stronghold of the Japanese forces). Mens go through swamps that were often hip deep and malaria infested.

When Bradley (division CO) showed him the map of where his troops were. Gen MacArthur exclaimed, "That's impossible!" No man can get through any of those swamps." Bradley simply answered, "Nevertheless, they are there." ... “

He was killed (or died of his wound) on October 20th

In a consequence he was first buried in USAF Cemetery N°1 in Leyte grave 745 (town of Palo, roughly 8 miles from Tacloban)

His remains were brought back in the USA in 1948 to his widow father Adam Schaaf and his sister Catherine Schaaf

He’s now buried in St Rose cemetery Carbondale Lackawanna county - PA

RIP young warrior ...