Joseph Raymond Sarnoski (1915 - 1943)

Born 31 Jan 1915 in Simpson, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 16 Jun 1943 at age 28 in Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Biography

Joseph R. Sarnoski was the second-oldest in a family of seventeen children of John and Josephine Sarnoski. ^[1]

Military Service

Joseph Sarnoski was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Second Lieutenant Joseph Raymond Sarnoski (January 31, 1915–June 16, 1943) was an officer of the United States Army Air Forces during a World War II, and received the ^[2]Medal of Honor posthumously. Sarnoski was part of Capt. Jay Zeamer Jr.'s crew on Old 666 on the day that both he and Zeamer earned the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Organization: U.S. Army

Division: 43rd Bomber Group

Born: 30 January 1915, Simpson, Pa.

Departed: Yes

Entered Service At: Simpson, Pa.

G.O. Number: 85

Date of Issue: 12/17/1943

Place / Date: Over Buka Area, Solomon Islands, 16 June 1943

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 16 June 1943, 2d Lt. Sarnoski volunteered as bombardier of a crew on an important photographic mapping mission covering the heavily defended Buka area, Solomon Islands. When the mission was nearly completed, about 20 enemy fighters intercepted. At the nose guns, 2d Lt. Sarnoski fought off the first attackers, making it possible for the pilot to finish the plotted course. When a coordinated frontal attack by the enemy extensively damaged his bomber, and seriously injured 5 of the crew, 2d Lt. Sarnoski, though wounded, continued firing and shot down 2 enemy planes. A 20-millimeter shell which burst in the nose of the bomber knocked him into the catwalk under the cockpit. With indomitable fighting spirit, he crawled back to his post and kept on firing until he collapsed on his guns. 2d Lt. Sarnoski by resolute defense of his aircraft at the price of his life, made possible the completion of a vitally important mission.^[3]

Burial

Place of burial National Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii

See the free-space page for the Eager Beavers unit of the 46th Bomb Group

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH3L-8F4 : accessed 17 March 2022), Joseph Sarnoski in household of John Sarnoski, Fell, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 151, sheet 42A, line 5, family 832, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2049; FHL microfilm 2,341,783.
2. ↑ Home of Heroes - MOH Citation SARNOSKI, JOSEPH R.
3. ↑ Sarnoski MoH citation

See also:

• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8TQ-SLD : 5 December 2014), Joseph S Sarnoski, enlisted 10 Sep 1942, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
• Wikipedia 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski