Going through some older files tonight (man what a job!) and came across this from Al Kincer
Medal of Honor
*SPECKER, JOE C.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 48th Engineer Combat Battalion. Place and date: At Mount Porchia, Italy, 7 January 1944. Entered service at: Odessa, Mo. Birth: Odessa, Mo. G.O. No.. 56, 12 July 1944. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in action involving actual conflict. On the night of 7 January 1944, Sgt. Specker, with his company, was advancing up the slope of Mount Porchia, Italy. He was sent forward on reconnaissance and on his return he reported to his company commander the fact that there was an enemy machinegun nest and several well-placed snipers directly in the path and awaiting the company. Sgt. Specker requested and was granted permission to place 1 of his machineguns in a position near the enemy machinegun. Voluntarily and alone he made his way up the mountain with a machinegun and a box of ammunition. He was observed by the enemy as he walked along and was severely wounded by the deadly fire directed at him. Though so seriously wounded that he was unable to walk, he continued to drag himself over the jagged edges of rock and rough terrain until he reached the position at which he desired to set up his machinegun. He set up the gun so well and fired so accurately that the enemy machine-gun nest was silenced and the remainder of the snipers forced to retire, enabling his platoon to obtain their objective. Sgt. Specker was found dead at his gun. His personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and determination were an inspiration to his officers and fellow soldiers
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Thank you Marion for the publication of Sgt. Joe Speckers Citation for the Medal Of Honor. That was a tough three days for the 48th Engrs. WE lost L/Col Goodpaster from wounds he took there, strafing by ME109's. At our reunion in Washington 1989 WE had as a guest Joe's Sister & a grand Niece & Nephew.
AL Kincer
Co. B 48 Engineers
You are quite welcome my dear. I keep finding all these precious items in my files and am trying to post them as I come across these.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Received this letter today from Joe's great-niece. How wonderful to hear from her and to discover the news about the dedication. I'm sure Al Kincer would have loved to see this transpire.
I was looking for information on Sgt. Joe Carl Specker today and came
across your site. Wow, you've done a great job! I have several photos
of Joe if you are interested. Mostly family photos and some of him
from infant to adult. Also some in uniform. I'm a great-niece. By the
way, a portion of I-70 in Odessa, Missouri, will be dedicated to Joe
at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 5. Just an interesting tidbit for you.
Linda Gillis
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Hi, Marion,
I will try to get those photos emailed as soon as possible. We will be
busy this weekend as we have company coming from out of state and are
attending the dedication ceremony. Just look through the photos and
post whatever you think is pertinent to the site once you get them.
You may not want to post everything.
I work at the local newspaper in Odessa and am in charge of the
Memorial Day Tribute page we do every year in May. It lists every man
and the one woman who gave their lives for their country from the
Odessa, Bates City, Wellington, Mayview area. It is my pet project. If
you should ever need any information on other military members from
this area, I'm the person to contact. If I don't have the information
or can't find it, I usually know who to call.
That was nice of you to post my letter. We are so very proud of Joe. I
never knew him, obviously, but his sister, my grandmother, Oneita
Specker Schreiman, spoke of him often and she is the one who gave me
the photos of him. That family is full of tragedy. Joe's father died
shortly after him, his brother also died young, Oneita's husband
committed suicide and her only daughter was mentally and physically
challenged from the time she was in her 20s. The families of Joe's
brother, George, have also had one tragedy after another. His sons all
lost children due to freak accidents and car accidents and several of
the grandchildren have suffered tragedies as well. It's like the
Kennedy curse only it's on the Speckers!
It's deadline day and a graduation issue, so I'd better run. By the
way, we have a nice story about Joe Specker on the front page this
week!
Linda Gillis
The Odessan
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
