Joe T. Palmiero was born on October 13, 1913, in the town of Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington to Giovanni Anthony “John” Palmiero and Maria Gracia “Mary” Palmiero, nee Fiorelli. Both of Joe’s parents were Italian immigrants. Joe’s siblings were Lewis, Raimona “Mondina,” Margaret, Raffaele “Fred,” and Sylvia Celine Palmiero. In 1920, the family lived in North Kittitas, Kittitas County, Washington. In 1923, they moved to Menastash, Kittitas County, where John was a farmer.

Joe Tony Palmiero registered for the draft on October 16 1940. He was 27 years old, 5’4” tall, and weighed 138 pounds. He had black hair, brown eyes, and a dark brown complexion. His employer was the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. He was drafted into the United States Army on March 28, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. He was single, without dependents, and had a high school education.

Private Joe Palmiero served in Company D, 186th Regiment, 41st Infantry Division. The 186th Infantry Regiment was one of the first American units to be deployed in the Pacific Theater. After a year of training in Australia, the 186th fought in Papua New Guinea from January through September 1943. They then moved on to New Guinea in April 1944. In May 1944, the 168th Infantry landed on the island of Biak, near the western end of New Guinea. The Battle of Biak lasted from May to August 1944. The objective was to clear the island of the Japanese Army to build airbases for the impending American invasion of the Philippines.

Private Joe T. Palmiero was killed in action on July 29, 1944 on Biak Island. His remains were returned to the States in 1949 and reinterred in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project

(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to

write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We

Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be

accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/Kittitas County

Sources:

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11874818/joe-palmiero

WWII Army Enlistment Records, https://www.fold3.com/record/90961006/joe-t-n-palmiero-wwii-army-enlistment-records

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763535?rec=299424406

WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/publication/1088/us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

The Spokesman-Review, 17 Jun 1945, Sun · Page 12, https://www.newspapers.com/image/569501496?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

1920 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/13690082:6061

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112242595:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=ff2bbc01f43bc5dcc1c09863e4f5b1f4&_phsrc=xOR60302&_phstart=successSource

Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/77105:2375

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37159901:2238

Joe T N Palmiero