Joseph Stanley Zmuda
4th Army
The 1st half of the 20th century had been difficult for everyone in America. Two World wars had seen countless people killed and an economic depression had almost eradicated the American Dream. Yet America survived and those who weathered these hardships passed down their patriotism and love for their country to the next generation. This was very much true for the Zmuda family, who had immigrated from Poland and settled in Illinois. Their son, Joseph, had been born during the depression and would grow up during the Second World War. He had only known a few years of relative normalcy in his adult life before the Korean war broke out. Joseph had entered St. Ambrose College in pursuit of a degree prior to the outbreak of the war and was delivered a draft notice. He had the opportunity to take a deferment given he was in university, but he chose to serve his country like his father had during the First World War. The youthful private entered the service expecting to be sent off to Korea where casualties had begun to mount, but the army had other ideas. His work ethic and intellect had not gone unnoticed and his superiors saw an opportunity to make a career soldier out of him. So, he was sent off to train as an officer. The training was intensive and time consuming, though the hard-working Polish American would successfully complete his course without issue. When he had completed all his required training, the army, offered him a position in the 101st Division, which was stationed in Germany. To re-enlist meant a career in the military and he instead opted to return to his studies, having already honorably completed his service with the 4th Army. A few years later, Joseph, would graduate from St. Ambrose and would end up marrying the love of his life, Murrel Molle. He would find great success in construction material sales, raise a family, and become an avid outdoorsman, truly living the American Dream (1).
Sources:
(1) “Joseph S. Zmuda.” QCOnline, Dispatch Argus, 16 June 2019, qconline.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/joseph-s-zmuda/article_3f810ca9-8e0b-542f-ac5c-ef7d311b3171.html.
(1) “Joseph S. Zmuda.” QCOnline, Dispatch Argus, 16 June 2019, qconline.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/joseph-s-zmuda/article_3f810ca9-8e0b-542f-ac5c-ef7d311b3171.html.