Corporal Joseph A. Negri (32905647)

We are lucky that Joe Negri’s family preserved a large trove of photographs, memoirs and audio recordings from Joe. His memories paint a vivid picture of squadron life on the battlefield and during the occupation of Germany. He also shows us the impact of combat on someone who survives war. Joe’s collection will form a major part of the story on this site.

Daughter Karen has contributed this profile of Joe, in her own words.

Giuseppe Mario Negri, aka Joseph A. Negri, was born on November 4, 1924, in New York  City in an area called Greenwich Village. He was the second surviving son of Italian  immigrants. The family moved around quite a bit from New York to New Jersey in search of  work. It was a tough childhood being an immigrant’s son, especially during the Depression, but he made the best of it. 

After 2 years of high school Joe went to work as a cutter in a shoe making business to contribute to the family finances, until May 11, 1943, when he enlisted in the army. He  completed his basic training at Camp Campbell in Kentucky as a member of the 20th Armored Division. May 1944, a year after entering the service, he was transported to  Europe, landing in Wales readying to be a replacement for the expected casualties of D Day. 

The first major battle he participated in was the St. Lô breakthrough as a mortar gunner for the 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Troop A, 4th Cavalry group. Joe went on to be  involved in five major campaigns during his time in the cavalry. He received a Bronze Star for actions he took on January 5, 1945, regarding a mortar mishap, and said how proud he was when he was pinned by a Major for it. 

Joe often talked about his experiences in the 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance, always trying to  put a humorous spin on his stories to deflect the horrors he saw or participated in. He  relayed his thoughts on how the changes in his attitude hardened as time went on during  the war. Soldiers, himself included, were doing things that they never would have done if at  home. He felt that the soldiers developed a hardened shell. The callousness that emerged amongst those fighting in the war. He reflected in later years, in his stories, how he couldn’t believe the things he and others did that were considered normal behavior at that time. 

His mother once mentioned that he was never the same Joe when he returned from WW2.  He even admitted that he was always worried about the Russians, the atomic bomb or being involved in another war. My sister, a nurse at a military base, suspected he might  have suffered from PTSD being that he would be anxious and quick to anger for no apparent reason.  

Dad tried to be a good husband and father to his family. He finally finished school and received his high school diploma in 1956. After the war he got a job as a piece work shoe stitcher at a fancy shoe factory in NYC. Married in 1949, had two daughters and retired at  the age of 63 after having been employed in various jobs including a mailman, barber and finally a QA inspector at an aerospace fastener company. 

Until his last days he continued to reflect on his experiences in the war. It was probably the  most influential time of his life and the one that made the most impact. 

Lisa and I are proud of our “Pops”

Hear Joe Negri recalling his experiences after arriving in France in 1944. This recording was made in 1992.

The material on this page represents only a fraction of Joe’s records. Much more will be added to the site over time.