PVT Joseph Edward Stricker

courtesy of Dennis Healy

PVT Joseph Edward Stricker was born in Baltimore, Maryland on 19 Oct 1919. He was the only child of Howard William and Elsie Elizabeth (Brown) Stricker. His father worked as a machinist's helper but his parents divorced before 1930 and his mother re-married. Step-father, John Edward Weikel, worked for the railroad as a car inspector. The family lived at 2506 Franklin Street in Baltimore which they rented for $30 a month. The family was moderately well off, John reported a 1939 income of $1650 and Joseph was working as a pressman in a factory reporting a 1939 income of $650. Joseph then got a job with Bethlehem Steel as a welder. He married Lucille M. Palumbo in 1942 and they would have a son in February 1943.

Joseph was drafted just 4-days before his son's birth. After completing his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. He was transferred from Headquarters 9th Army to K Company 116th Infantry on 7 Dec 1945 to serve as a rifleman. Sometime in April 1945 Joseph was wounded but it was not reported. He died of his wound(s) on 6 Apr 1945. 

PVT Stricker was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Baltimore National Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.

Son, Joseph Edward Stricker Jr, retired as Detective Sergeant with Baltimore County Police Department. Grandsons, Joseph Edward Stricker III and Michael John Stricker also served with the department.