Joe Blanco, Sr., 99
Joe Blanco, Sr., was born in 1923 in Craig, California, to Heraldo Blanco and Andrea Rojas Blanco. In 1930 they migrated to Nebraska since his father had passed away when Joe was between the ages of 6 and 7. His mother had 9 children.They lived on the farm and labored as crop workers there. It was hard labor since all harvesting was done by hand, and it was part of what made him so tough, hang tuff as they called him. He started going to school at about 7 years old and then, at 10, his parents pulled him out to work in the fields. By 19 he was head of the household, supporting his mother and siblings.
In 1942 he was drafted and served as an ETO in 1943-45.
After only 6 months of training he was sent overseas. Joe served in the United States Army for 4 years as Military Police. In 1943 he wound up in Great Plains, MN and was trained for the invasion of France for 6 months, then shipped out to Europe and ended up in England doing more training for invasion of France.When the invasion started, he fought on the beaches of Normandy, and worked to liberate all of France,pushing the enemy back over the Rhine River into Germany.
Joe was discharged on the fourth anniversary of the US declaring war, December 7, 1945, to come home to the states because they defeated Germany; he returned to Fort Leavenworth Kansas.
He was awarded an ETO Ribbon, won 5 major battle stars, a Defense Ribbon, US Service Ribbon, and Good Conduct Medal, a Victory Ribbons for Occupation, Enemy Clip for Germany Occupation with a Germany Clip: DuringWWII he would send money when he wrote home to help provide for school for the children, and sent allowance home.Then Joe worked in construction, the sugar factory, and working for Lockwoods too. He then started roofing, he roofed for Vaughn Peters until Vaughn passed away, then he worked for Weathercraft. After roofing for many years, he retired in his 80s.
After he retired everything caught up to him, especially his PTSD.
He led a beautiful, wonder- filled life for 99 years and has many loving children and lived a love filled life with his wife Rose.
He was very proud of his kids and grandkids and great grandkids. He taught himself to read and would read the newspaper daily. He loved sports, especially theLas Vegas Raiders.
He is survived by his wife Rosemarie, son Virgil Smyres (Michele Litke) daughter Jessica (Travis) Turner, daughter Tonia (Mark) Buss, daughter Sandy Blanco-Anderson (Greg), Debora Blanco, Rita Blanco, Micheal Joseph (Crystal) Vaughn, Kimberly (Bill) Snyder, Lupe (Keith) Saathoff; 25 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by siblings Jerry Blanco, Cruz Blanco, Honda Deollas, Salome Blanco, Merced Blanco, Lupe Blanco; children Richard Blanco, Jolene K. Blanco, and Joe Blanco, Jr.