Joseph Foster Porter, Jr. was born Oct 18, 1917 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Joseph Foster Sr. & Grace A. Vogel Porter. In 1940 Joseph was working for the city water department. On 6 Jul 1942 Joseph married Koka Jo Johnson at Fort Smith. Joseph registered for the draft at Fort Smith. He served as a Pfc. with the 15th Inf. 3 Inf Div. during the Battle of Anzio, Italy that commenced on January 22, 1944. On Feb 1944 Pfc Porter was admitted to the hospital with injuries received in the line of duty. The medical diagnosis - First Location: Leg; Second Location: Foot, generally; caused by artillery shell, & franments. Treatment was removal of foreign bodies from extremity. In May 1944 he was discharged back to duty. June 5, 1944 at Angio, Italy he was again injured in line of duty. The injury this time was to the neck caused by a missile. Pfc. Porter did not survive this time. Pfc. Joseph Foster Porter. Jr was finally layed to rest in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Ar. on 27 July, 1948. Pfc Joseph Foster Porter, Jr. was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.