John Joseph Pinder Jr.

Retrieved radios under fire despite serious wounds on D-Day.

John Joseph Pinder Jr., known as Joe, was born on 6 June 1912 in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. The eldest of John and Laura Pinder's three children, he grew up in a family whose moves followed his father's work in the steel industry. He graduated from Butler High School in 1931 and developed into a right-handed baseball pitcher.

Pinder's professional career began with the Butler Indians in 1935. After a brief period with Butler under New York Yankees sponsorship, he returned to semiprofessional baseball before rejoining the minor leagues in Florida. His final season, in 1941, included service with the Fort Pierce Bombers and Greenville Lions. He won 17 games that year, but the war ended his hopes of reaching the major leagues.

Drafted into the Army in January 1942, Pinder became a radio operator with the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He served in the North African and Sicilian campaigns before returning to England to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. For maintaining an exposed observation post near Gangi, Sicily, on 23 July 1943 and transmitting valuable tactical information under artillery and mortar fire, he received a posthumous Bronze Star. His younger brother Harold also served, as an Army airman, and was captured after his bomber was shot down in 1944. Pinder did not live to learn that his brother survived captivity.

On 6 June 1944, his 32nd birthday, Pinder landed with the assault troops near Colleville-sur-Mer on Omaha Beach. Machine-gun and artillery fire struck the men as they waded toward shore. Carrying a radio through waist-deep water, he was gravely wounded only a short distance from his landing craft, but continued and delivered the equipment to the beach.

Despite severe pain and loss of blood, Pinder refused cover and medical treatment. He returned to the exposed surf three times to recover communications equipment, including a second working radio. On his third trip he was hit in the legs. Still refusing to stop, he helped establish the beach's vital radio link while remaining under fire. He was struck again and killed before the day ended.

Pinder received the Medal of Honor posthumously under General Orders No. 1 of 4 January 1945. Major General Philip Hayes presented it to his father in Baltimore on 26 January. Initially buried in Normandy, he was brought home in 1947 and reinterred in Grandview Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Medal of Honor citation Rank and organization: Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. Birth: McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. G.O. No. 1, 4 January 1945.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. On D-day, Technician 5th Grade Pinder landed on the coast 100 yards off shore under devastating enemy machinegun and artillery fire which caused severe casualties among the boatload. Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled towards shore in waist-deep water. Only a few yards from his craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded. Technician 5th Grade Pinder never stopped. He made shore and delivered the radio. Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical attention for his wounds, Technician 5th Grade Pinder, though terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on 3 occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communication equipment. He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including another workable radio. On the 3rd trip he was again hit, suffering machinegun bullet wounds in the legs. Still this valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention. Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker, he aided in establishing the vital radio communication on the beach. While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit for the third time and killed. The indomitable courage and personal bravery of Technician 5th Grade Pinder was a magnificent inspiration to the men with whom he served.

Bronze Star Medal citation John J. Pinder, Jr., 33146164, Technician Grade 5 (then Private First Class), Headquarters Company, 16th Infantry. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Gangi, Sicily, 23 July 1943. Courageously remaining at an exposed observation post under severe artillery and mortar bombardment, Corporal Pinder transmitted valuable tactical information to a regimental command post. His heroic devotion to duty was instrumental in capture of an important objective. General Orders No. 39, Headquarters 1st U.S. Infantry Division, 14 February 1945.