Joe Farinholt

1
Joe Farinholt

• Lightning Joe

2
Birthplace/Dates of Life

• Born July 17, 1922
• Died June 11, 2002
• Born in Catonsville, Maryland

3
Early Childhood

• He moved to Arbutas, Maryland
• He planted flowers to sell for money
• He went through school until 8th grade
• He grew up in a family of 11 so he slept on the
  Armory floor most of the time

4
Early Adult Life

• He lied about his age to enlist in Marylands
  National Guard
• He was shipped to fight in World War 2 in January
  1941
• He earned his first silver star on July 13, 1944
  near Saint Lo for destroying an enemy tank so
  that his units attack could advance

5
Family Life

• 2 sisters Dorothy and Mildred
• 6 brothers that all passed away
• He had a wife named Red
• He had 4 kids
• 1 girl, Joe Alfreda
• 3 boys, Robert, John, and Joseph

6
Obstacles to Overcome

• He was shot 26 times along the right side of his
  body
• He went through some dangerous missions in World
  War 2
• He was very young during World War 2

7
Awards and Accomplishments

• Silver Star Medal
• Purple Heart Medal
• The most silver stars ever won(4)
• World War 2 Victory Medal
• American Defense service medal
• Bronze star medal
• Combat infantryman badge

8
Why a Hero

• He won 4 silver stars
• He exposed himself to fire to save several
  wounded men
• He used a machine gun to destroy a tank then took
  26 bullet wounds to the right side of his body,
  crawled to a jeep, drove to an army hospital and
  refused care until he gave his report of Germans
  coming and they destroyed the Germans ending
  World War 2

9
Why Do I Think Hes a Hero

• Because he refused care until he gave his report
• Because he was brave and saved many lives
• Because he took a part in ending World War 2
• And most of all he was a soldier

10
Interesting Facts

• Doctors were able to save his shattered right leg
  but one of his wounds never closed and for 58
  years he cleaned his open wound twice a day
• He was nicknamed Lightning Joe for running so
  fast through enemy fire to save several men
• The Westminister Armory is 10 min. away from his
  house and he visited it often