Joe Eugene Mann
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II:
Private First Class Joe Eugene Mann (8 July 1922 - 19 September 1944) was a U.S. Army paratrooper who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.
Joe Eugene Mann was born on 8 July 1922 in Reardan, WA. He joined the Army from Seattle, WA, in 1942. On 18 September 1944, he was serving as a Private First Class in Company H, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. In the vicinity of Best, Holland, that day he single-handedly destroyed an enemy emplacement and continued to fire on the enemy from an exposed position until being wounded. Despite his wounds, he insisted on serving guard duty during the night. The next morning, during an enemy attack, Mann covered the blast of a hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor:
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company H, 502d Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.
Place and date: Best, Holland, 18 September 1944.
Citation: He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. On 18 September 1944, in the vicinity of Best, Holland, his platoon, attempting to seize the bridge across the Wilhelmina Canal, was surrounded and isolated by an enemy force greatly superior in personnel and firepower. Acting as lead scout, Pfc. Mann boldly crept to within rocket-launcher range of an enemy artillery position and, in the face of heavy enemy fire, destroyed an 88mm. gun and an ammunition dump. Completely disregarding the great danger involved, he remained in his exposed position, and, with his M-1 rifle, killed the enemy one by one until he was wounded 4 times. Taken to a covered position, he insisted on returning to a forward position to stand guard during the night. On the following morning the enemy launched a concerted attack and advanced to within a few yards of the position, throwing hand grenades as they approached. One of these landed within a few feet of Pfc. Mann. Unable to raise his arms, which were bandaged to his body, he yelled "grenade" and threw his body over the grenade, and as it exploded, died. His outstanding gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and his magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades for whom he gave his life.
Medals and Awards:
Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart (5),
Honors:
The United States Army ship USAT Private Joe E. Mann which operated in the Pacific Ocean at the end of World War II was named in his honor.
In remembrance of Mann, a memorial monument was placed at the site of his death. Near the same site, an open-air theater (which remains in use today) was named after him.
Death and Burial:
Private First Class Joe Eugene Mann was killed in action on 19 September 1944. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane, WA.

Source: Military Hall of Honor