Magnolia in Stark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Magnolia Cemetery
Joe E. Hastings World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 20, 2002
1. Magnolia Cemetery Marker
Erected 2000 by Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 4-76.)
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman, the Medal of Honor Recipients, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists.
Location. 40° 39.282′ N, 81° 17.832′ W. Marker is in Magnolia, Ohio, in Stark County. Memorial is at the intersection of North
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Richard Elson Homestead (approx. 0.2 miles away); Waynesburg Korean Memorial (approx. 1˝ miles away); Waynesburg World War II Memorial (approx. 1˝ miles away); Sandy Valley Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away); Morges (approx. 3.1 miles away); Sandyville: The Town that Moved (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Great Trail / The Ohio Country in the Revolution (approx. 6.3 miles away); Malvern Veteran's Memorial (approx. 6.3 miles away).
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, November 16, 2014
2. Magnolia Cemetery Marker
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 20, 2002
3. Magnolia Cemetery Marker
Joe E. Hastings is buried in Magnolia Cemetery. The grave GPS Coordinates are N40.6556 W81.2962.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION: *HASTINGS, JOE R. (KILLED IN ACTION)
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 386th Infantry, 97th Infantry Division. Place and date: Drabenderhohe, Germany, 12 April 1945. Entered service at: Magnolia, Ohio. Birth: Malvern, Ohio. G.O. No.: 101, 8 November 1945. Citation: He fought gallantly during an attack against strong enemy forces defending Drabenderhohe, Germany, from the dug-in positions on commanding ground. As squad leader of a light machinegun section supporting the advance of the 1st and 3d Platoons, he braved direct rifle, machinegun, 20mm., and mortar fire, some of which repeatedly missed him only by inches, and rushed forward over 350 yards of open, rolling fields to reach a position from which he could fire on the enemy troops. From this vantage point he killed the crews of a 20mm. gun and a machinegun, drove several enemy riflemen from their positions, and so successfully shielded the 1st Platoon, that it had time to reorganize and remove its wounded to safety. Observing that the 3d Platoon to his right was being met by very heavy 40mm. and machinegun fire, he ran 150 yards with his gun to the leading elements of that unit, where he killed the crew of the 40mm. gun. As spearhead of the 3d Platoon's attack, he advanced, firing his gun held at hip height, disregarding the bullets that whipped past him, until the assault had carried 175 yards to the objective. In this charge he and the riflemen he led killed or wounded many of the fanatical enemy and put 2 machineguns out of action. Pfc. Hastings, by his intrepidity, outstanding leadership, and unrelenting determination to wipe out the formidable German opposition, cleared the path for his company's advance into Drabenderhohe. He was killed 4 days later while again supporting the 3d Platoon
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 20, 2002
4. Magnolia Cemetery Marker
Joe E. Hastings private grave marker in Magnolia Cemetery.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 638 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 21, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on November 16, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on January 21, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
