Dewey C. Josephson
Dewey C. Josephson was born February 4, 1916 in Foxholm, ND., the son of Mrs. Hulda L. Rees. Dewey also had a brother, Carroll of Pickett. When Dewey was 12 years old, the family moved to Oshkosh. Before his enlistment, Dewey was employed on the Levi Jones farm in the town of Utica, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Rosendale.
Dewey entered the service June 14, 1941 and went overseas September 5, 1943. He was in England from that time until the invasion of the Normandy Beaches in France, in late June of 1944. He served in the 3rd Armored Division of Hodges' First Army – nicknamed "The Spearhead Division", in recognition of the division's role as the spearhead of many attacks during the liberation of France in 1944. The 3rd Armored Division advanced rapidly eastward to the eastern border of Germany and on to capture the city of Cologne. From the time of his enlistment in June of 1941, to the time of his death, Dewey rose to the rank of Staff Sargent. It was while Dewey was serving with the 3rd Armored Division that they discovered the Dora-Mittelbau concentration camp, and immediately began transporting 250 ill and starving prisoners to nearby hospital facilities. Shortly after this discovery and rescue, Dewey gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He was killed in action on April 17, 1945. He was 29.
