Joseph Shimko |
| World War II, 1939-1946
Army
99th Infantry, 384th Regiment, Company L
European Theater
Sergeant
McKeesport, PA
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As a sergeant and leader of a mortar squad, Joseph Shimko's first action in Europe was
the Battle of the Bulge. He and his men had trouble during the Bulge finding level ground
on which to fire their weapons. His main memories of the battle were of confusion; even
his officers weren't always aware of where they were and where they were needed. In
three weeks, his rifle company dropped from 210 to 68 men, due to casualties and
disappearances. They wound up on famed Elsenborn Ridge, where the U.S. Army held
off the Germans and helped to turn the tide.
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