WWII BATTLE OF THE BULGE VETERAN DIES AT 99

Please join us in remembering WWII Veteran Joseph Watson, who passed away last Tuesday in South Carolina. He was 99. Three years ago, we had the opportunity to join Watson on his return to the battlefield where he fought for the first time since the war.

As a Lieutenant in Company D, 291st Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division, Joe commanded an 81mm mortar platoon. His introduction to combat occurred during the Battle of the Bulge, when his unit was thrust into action in late December 1944.

In January, while fighting in the Belgian town of Ville du Bois, Watson was wounded in action when he was struck in the thigh by shrapnel from a German artillery shell. The explosion killed Joe's platoon sergeant and injured several other men.

During our interview, Joe reflected on how fortunate he was to survive the Battle of the Bulge, where so many Americans lost their lives.

"I was the only one in my platoon that was not killed," he recalled.

Special thanks to the Footsteps Researchersteam for making Joe's battlefield return a reality and allowing us to document the journey. Thanks to Bob Konings for coordinating this interview at his lovely Herberg Bo Temps.

"Giving the Past a Future, One Story at a Time.”
WWII Veterans History Project