Joseph Alphonse De Ridder was born on April 27, 1917 in Norway, Dickinson County, Michigan. He attended public schools and was employed at DeRidder’s Market before he joined the Armed Forces. He entered the service in Feb. 1943. After basic training and aviation school, he graduated Dec. 5, 1943 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieut and received his co-pilot’s license. He left for overseas Feb. 1944.

Joseph was a crew member of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber which participated in a combat mission. The plane was subjected to enemy anti-aircraft fire over the target and his plane sustained damage. He was Killed in Action on July 31, 1944 during an American bombing raid over Munich, Germany and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France. 1Lt DeRidder was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com