After graduating from OACS Joe served his country as a member of the US Army Signal Corps and earned recognition in many areas. Receiving two Expert Marksmanship Badges, one for Rifle and the other for Automatic Rifle, a Cold War Recognition Certificate, the Army Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbons with Device. When his unit was deployed overseas, Joe was selected as 1 of 12 men in his company to be a member of the advance party detail, he also received a Top Secret Security Clearance, necessary for his duty assignment. Other military related awards are the New York State Medal for Merit with 2 silver shields, New York State Conspicuous Service Star, and Companion Certificate.
Joe is a member of Hiram G. Luhman Post 626 the American Legion, where he has held several offices, a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 273 and is currently the Post Commander, a life member of Chapter 166 Disabled American Veterans, and a member of the Genesee County Joint Veterans Honor Guard.
Joe is a 50 year member of the Alabama Volunteer Fire Department where he been president and fire chief. He is a life member of Western New York Volunteer Fireman’s Association. He also served his community as a three-term councilman on the Alabama Town Board, Alabama town Historian, and and president of the Alabama Historical Society, as well as Appointed Public Historians of New York State and Government Appointed Historians of Western NY. Joe served as member of OA Alumni Hall of Fame Committee, including two years as its chairman.
Joe's passion preserving the history of his beloved home town of Alabama, New York, included authoring books preserving records of Civil War soldiers, and many aspects of local history such as schools, churches, government, one on early accounts of crime in Alabama and one on recorded tales of “offbeat history”. He has researched and documented the lives of individuals from the town of Alabama who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field.
Joe headed up the acquiring and erection of a Veteran’s Memorial in the town of Alabama which was dedicated on August 5th, 2017.
Joe and his wife Dawn have been married for more than 50 years and have two children, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.