Captain Joe Carl Richards

Silver Star

Joe Carl Richards was born 11 January 1919 in Erath, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. J R Richards.  By age 11 he was living in Floyd NM and graduated from Floyd HS in 1936.  The next fall he enrolled at NMAMC to study agriculture, graduating with his degree in Agricultural Service in the spring of 1940. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the US Army and shortly thereafter entered active service.  He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment and served in the Pacific Theater for 32 months , taking part in the New Guinea, Biak and Philippine campaigns.  He was awarded the Silver Star, three battle stars and an invasion arrow.  His battalion retook Corregidor from the Japanese and was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the effort.  In July 1945 he was admitted to William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso and was still there in December 1945.  At that time he left active duty and for a time was working in Hagerman teaching agriculture.  In 1949 the army called him back to active duty for 12 months.  In October 1951 he was once again recalled to active duty.  He was assigned to Fort Riley Kansas for attachment to the 2nd Battalion, Headquarters Company, 85th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division.