Joseph was raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. He attended Mount Mercy and St. Paul's Cathedral Elementary schools and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1936. He received his bachelor's of science degree in engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University.
He entered pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1940 and received his pilot wings in May 1941. In 1942, he was transferred to Troop Carrier Command and went to England with the First Air Corps Units sent there. His unit dropped airborne troops in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In 1944, he was transferred back to England and promoted to commander of a newly arrived squadron.
He flew operations in the Invasions of Normandy and Southern France. In the Invasion of Holland, he was shot down and ended the European War as a prisoner of war. During his military career, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, nine Battle Stars and the Croix De Guerre. He reached the rank of Lt. Colonel.
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph Albert Beck, II, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Member of the Crew of a Troop Transport Airplane of the 60th Troop Carrier Group, 12th Air Force, in action against enemy forces on November 8, 1942. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Beck on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 12th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
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After the war, he left the service and returned to graduate school, receiving his master's in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1947.
He worked for 19 years in South America in Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina for a series of companies including Coca Cola, U.S. Steel Corp. and H.B. Maynard Co.
After returning to Pittsburgh in 1966, he worked for the K.K. Porter Company Inc. and then joined the Keystone Metal Company in 1971, to manage its plant in Newark, N.J. He moved to Westfield, N.J. and finally retired from Keystone in 1985. He worked as a consultant for several years before joining the Engineer Corps of The Internal Revenue Service, where he worked in the Manhattan office.
He was a member of the Harvard Club of New York City and had been a member of Pittsburgh Athletic Association and Edgeworth Clubs in Pittsburgh.
He married Martha on Nov. 15, 1950, while in South America and they had three children. The family has lived in Westfield, Mendham, Cranford and Mountainside, N.J.
Surviving are children, Christopher Beck, Andrew (Diane) Beck and Martha (Peter) Philippon; grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa and Jenn Philippon; and sisters, Rosina Lewis and Jane Wells.
He entered pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1940 and received his pilot wings in May 1941. In 1942, he was transferred to Troop Carrier Command and went to England with the First Air Corps Units sent there. His unit dropped airborne troops in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In 1944, he was transferred back to England and promoted to commander of a newly arrived squadron.
He flew operations in the Invasions of Normandy and Southern France. In the Invasion of Holland, he was shot down and ended the European War as a prisoner of war. During his military career, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, nine Battle Stars and the Croix De Guerre. He reached the rank of Lt. Colonel.
----
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph Albert Beck, II, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Member of the Crew of a Troop Transport Airplane of the 60th Troop Carrier Group, 12th Air Force, in action against enemy forces on November 8, 1942. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Beck on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 12th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
----
After the war, he left the service and returned to graduate school, receiving his master's in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1947.
He worked for 19 years in South America in Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina for a series of companies including Coca Cola, U.S. Steel Corp. and H.B. Maynard Co.
After returning to Pittsburgh in 1966, he worked for the K.K. Porter Company Inc. and then joined the Keystone Metal Company in 1971, to manage its plant in Newark, N.J. He moved to Westfield, N.J. and finally retired from Keystone in 1985. He worked as a consultant for several years before joining the Engineer Corps of The Internal Revenue Service, where he worked in the Manhattan office.
He was a member of the Harvard Club of New York City and had been a member of Pittsburgh Athletic Association and Edgeworth Clubs in Pittsburgh.
He married Martha on Nov. 15, 1950, while in South America and they had three children. The family has lived in Westfield, Mendham, Cranford and Mountainside, N.J.
Surviving are children, Christopher Beck, Andrew (Diane) Beck and Martha (Peter) Philippon; grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa and Jenn Philippon; and sisters, Rosina Lewis and Jane Wells.
Joseph was raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. He attended Mount Mercy and St. Paul's Cathedral Elementary schools and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1936. He received his bachelor's of science degree in engineering from Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University.
He entered pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1940 and received his pilot wings in May 1941. In 1942, he was transferred to Troop Carrier Command and went to England with the First Air Corps Units sent there. His unit dropped airborne troops in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In 1944, he was transferred back to England and promoted to commander of a newly arrived squadron.
He flew operations in the Invasions of Normandy and Southern France. In the Invasion of Holland, he was shot down and ended the European War as a prisoner of war. During his military career, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, nine Battle Stars and the Croix De Guerre. He reached the rank of Lt. Colonel.
----
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph Albert Beck, II, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Member of the Crew of a Troop Transport Airplane of the 60th Troop Carrier Group, 12th Air Force, in action against enemy forces on November 8, 1942. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Beck on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 12th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
----
After the war, he left the service and returned to graduate school, receiving his master's in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1947.
He worked for 19 years in South America in Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina for a series of companies including Coca Cola, U.S. Steel Corp. and H.B. Maynard Co.
After returning to Pittsburgh in 1966, he worked for the K.K. Porter Company Inc. and then joined the Keystone Metal Company in 1971, to manage its plant in Newark, N.J. He moved to Westfield, N.J. and finally retired from Keystone in 1985. He worked as a consultant for several years before joining the Engineer Corps of The Internal Revenue Service, where he worked in the Manhattan office.
He was a member of the Harvard Club of New York City and had been a member of Pittsburgh Athletic Association and Edgeworth Clubs in Pittsburgh.
He married Martha on Nov. 15, 1950, while in South America and they had three children. The family has lived in Westfield, Mendham, Cranford and Mountainside, N.J.
Surviving are children, Christopher Beck, Andrew (Diane) Beck and Martha (Peter) Philippon; grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa and Jenn Philippon; and sisters, Rosina Lewis and Jane Wells.
He entered pilot training in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1940 and received his pilot wings in May 1941. In 1942, he was transferred to Troop Carrier Command and went to England with the First Air Corps Units sent there. His unit dropped airborne troops in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily. In 1944, he was transferred back to England and promoted to commander of a newly arrived squadron.
He flew operations in the Invasions of Normandy and Southern France. In the Invasion of Holland, he was shot down and ended the European War as a prisoner of war. During his military career, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, nine Battle Stars and the Croix De Guerre. He reached the rank of Lt. Colonel.
----
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Joseph Albert Beck, II, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Member of the Crew of a Troop Transport Airplane of the 60th Troop Carrier Group, 12th Air Force, in action against enemy forces on November 8, 1942. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Beck on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 12th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
----
After the war, he left the service and returned to graduate school, receiving his master's in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1947.
He worked for 19 years in South America in Uruguay, Venezuela and Argentina for a series of companies including Coca Cola, U.S. Steel Corp. and H.B. Maynard Co.
After returning to Pittsburgh in 1966, he worked for the K.K. Porter Company Inc. and then joined the Keystone Metal Company in 1971, to manage its plant in Newark, N.J. He moved to Westfield, N.J. and finally retired from Keystone in 1985. He worked as a consultant for several years before joining the Engineer Corps of The Internal Revenue Service, where he worked in the Manhattan office.
He was a member of the Harvard Club of New York City and had been a member of Pittsburgh Athletic Association and Edgeworth Clubs in Pittsburgh.
He married Martha on Nov. 15, 1950, while in South America and they had three children. The family has lived in Westfield, Mendham, Cranford and Mountainside, N.J.
Surviving are children, Christopher Beck, Andrew (Diane) Beck and Martha (Peter) Philippon; grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa and Jenn Philippon; and sisters, Rosina Lewis and Jane Wells.
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Records on Ancestry
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U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current
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U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
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Ohio, U.S., Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index, 1810s-2016
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Pennsylvania, U.S., Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966
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1930 United States Federal Census
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