Valor on D-Day
In January of 1944, Joe's brother, Harold, was shot down while on a mission. At the time, he was listed as MIA; Joe believed his younger brother lived. On June 6, 1944, Joe Pinder celebrated his 32nd birthday. It would also be the day he died.
Pinder was a radio technician with the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (known as the "Big Red One") headed to the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach. He was charged with the task of establishing communications.
One hundred yards off shore, Pinder’s landing craft came under terrible machine gun and artillery fire – many on the boat died. Pinder struggled toward shore in waist deep water while carrying an SCR-284 (radio equipment which weighed approx. 300 pounds). He was hit and seriously wounded a few yards away from his craft. He suffered a major injury to the left side of his face as well as severe shrapnel wounds elsewhere.
Despite these wounds, Joe Pinder successfully carried his radio to shore. He refused medical attention and again went into the water to retrieve equipment left floating. He did so three times rescuing additional communication equipment.
On the third trip, Pinder was struck in his leg by machine gun fire. He valiantly crawled to shore with the last load of salvaged equipment. Though weakened by his wounds and
growing weaker, Joe Pinder helped to establish radio communications. He was struck again and killed.
Pinder was a radio technician with the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (known as the "Big Red One") headed to the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach. He was charged with the task of establishing communications.
One hundred yards off shore, Pinder’s landing craft came under terrible machine gun and artillery fire – many on the boat died. Pinder struggled toward shore in waist deep water while carrying an SCR-284 (radio equipment which weighed approx. 300 pounds). He was hit and seriously wounded a few yards away from his craft. He suffered a major injury to the left side of his face as well as severe shrapnel wounds elsewhere.
Despite these wounds, Joe Pinder successfully carried his radio to shore. He refused medical attention and again went into the water to retrieve equipment left floating. He did so three times rescuing additional communication equipment.
On the third trip, Pinder was struck in his leg by machine gun fire. He valiantly crawled to shore with the last load of salvaged equipment. Though weakened by his wounds and
growing weaker, Joe Pinder helped to establish radio communications. He was struck again and killed.