Joseph Alexander Eck was born on May 14, 1923, in Clarksburg, Virginia. He was the son of Andrew A. Eck and Theresa Bogner Eck. He was married to Laura Bell Pritt Prescott.

Joseph served in the 349th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Bombardier on the B-17 #42-107056 during World War II.

On April 28, 1944, his crew took off from Station 139 airfield in Thorpe Abbotts, England, on a mission to destroy V1 sites. At 10:26 AM, their plane was shot down by flak and crashed in Tamerville, France. The plane was partially evacuated, but those who didn't make it died in the incident. SSgt Eck was one of the casualties. He is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, francecrashes39-45.net