Joseph Eugene McVey entered the military service in Montana. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Private in Company M, 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action but declared "Missing" on July 21, 1918 and is memorialized on Tablets of the Missing, Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France.

CITED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
The Commander-in-Chief, in the name of the President, has awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to the following named officers and soldiers for the acts of extraordinary heroism described after their names:
Pvt. Joseph E. McVey (deceased)(No. 58743), Company M, 28th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 18-21, 1918. After his platoon commander had been wounded Pvt. McVey took command of the platoon and displayed exceptional initiative, good judgment, and devotion to duty. He alone captured a machine gun which was holding up the advance and continued to lead his men forward until reaching their final objective. He himself was killed. Next of kin, Miss Elizabeth Hoy, sister, St. Marys, Kansas.