Part 9: Bessie's brother Joy Clarence Small

Joy Clarence Small 

Joy Clarence Small was born 5 Jan 1914 on the family farm in Bucksport, Hancock, Maine. This picture, however, is taken at the home of his grandparents, Bill and Maud Small. I wish we had copies of the pictures on the walls.

It was traditional (and warmer) for women to wear 'mob' caps like this one that Janet's wearing.

He was the first child and only son born to Howard and Janet Small. Here he is sitting on a blanket, presumably somewhere on the farm in Bucksport and possibly munching on a treat.

He was a big boy, husky and muscular like his mother's side of the family, the Gibersons. He would grow to 6'2" and by the early 1940's, weigh 210 lbs.

Grammie, Joy, Grampie

Joy was five years old during the flu pandemic which took his parents (probably about the age he is in this photo with Maud and Bill).

Left to right in the photo of the four children: Laurel, Joy holding Valeda, and a very somber Bessie (perhaps it was the bow, Bessie always had a sense of style and that bow...well, it speaks for itself)

Laurel, Joy (sitting, holding Valeda), Bessie

Boys of that era wore short pants rather than long and if you look at his childhood pictures, or any pictures of that day and age, you will see this tradition carries on until the boy becomes "a man".

From an early age, Joy was a great protector and took his duty seriously. This was a legacy that provided help and a shoulder to cry on - not just for his own family, but our country well.

Joy Clarence Small

"JC" Small was a firm supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. He was very involved in the Farrington Troop and his young charges greatly admired him. He received awards from the NRA (National Rifle Association) and ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in high school.

Bessie recalled that Joy would have her punch him in the stomach to toughen it up. "And he'd have me hit him hard!" she said.

Eventually, Joy (who was a VERY handsome young man with many girls after him) met a young woman he couldn't live without.

Bessie told me that one Valentines Day, Joy bought several boxes of candy and had Bessie help him deliver them to different girls. She felt she was asked to go mostly so he wouldn't have to stay and visit with any of them. One of the boxes was significantly larger and much prettier than the others and he took Bessie home before he delivered it. She was very curious who it was going to go to.

Lillian and Joy - wedding day

Lillian Lunt

Naturally, he had saved the best for last. It went to Miss Lillian Lunt of Brewer, Maine.

He married Lillian Carolyn Lunt 30 Nov 1939 in Brewer, Penobscott, Maine in a civil ceremony at the First Congregational church of Brewer. Thirty six years later on 8 Jun 1976, they were married for time and all eternity in the Washington DC LDS Temple.

 Joy was a potato broker and Lill a nurse.

Joy and unknown man near truck

Eventually, unable to have children of their own, they reached out to adopt two that fit perfectly into their arms and hearts.

Joy and his adopted children, Susie, and Billy

Joy never forgot the woman that raised him and he took good care of Maud. He did many things for her she could not do for herself as age crept up on her. Here she is pictured with Joy and Lillian.

Lillian, Maud, Joy

I asked Norman his first impression of Joy when he and Bessie went back to Maine for their honeymoon in 1941. His answer: "He was a big man and a handsome son-of-a-gun. He liked me. We got along alright."

I think at least part of that comradery was due to the way that Norman treated Bessie. Joy knew that Laurel had married a good man because he had met him. Once he met Norman, he knew he wouldn't have to worry about Bessie anymore.

Norman worked with the potatoes back in Maine until December. Then the world changed. On Dec 7, 1941, Joy was working with Norman when the news came that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. The war which had raged over Europe and the Pacific had now provoked America. Joy was going to war.

He was inducted along with 41 other men and began his stint in the army as an acting corporal. He was known as "Tiny" to his men.

I hope I get this short story right:

At one point, he was knocked out by a bullet hitting his helmet.

One of his men called out, "They got Tiny!"

He replied, "I ain't dead, but I'm (swore) mad!"

He wasn't so lucky the next time he got shot.

Joy received the Silver Star, the third highest U.S. military decoration. It is awarded for "Gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States"

In the letter dated 1 Sep 1945, the reason for the award was given as follows "...On 10 Aug 1945 in the vicinity of Mt Puloy, Luzon, P.I. Company "G" was given the mission of securing a commanding hill. The securing of this key point was imperative to the success of the operation of the battalion. The 1st platoon, commanded by Lt. Small, was ordered to lead the assault. By cautious maneuvering, the platoon was able to reach within 100 yards of its objective. At this point the Japs opened up with intense automatic and rifle fire causing the platoon to halt its advance. The enemy fire was coming in from well dug in and camouflaged positions that were almost impossible to discover. Lt. Small, realizing the predicament of his platoon, crawled forward of his platoon under constant and relentless enemy fire to within 20 yards of the first Jap position. At the risk of his own life he purposely exposed himself to enemy fire often in order to spot the exact location of the enemy emplacements. He found one pillbox, but his grenade fire was not enough to destroy it. At this time, one of Lt. Small's men, in changing his position, fell wounded a few yards in front of the enemy. Lt. Small with utter disregard for his own safety, braved close range rifle fire in order to crawl forward and pull the wounded man to safety. After administering first aid he maneuvered his platoon in a difficult double envelope movement and succeeded in destroying 10 successive enemy positions, annihilating one Jap platoon. His courageous action at the risk of his own life reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service..."

The article in the Bangor newspaper about him reads: Cited - Second Lieut. Joy C. Small, husband of Mrs. Lillian Small of 17 Blackstone Street, who is stationed in Korea, has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Mount Puloy, Luzon, August 10, 1945.

Lieut. Small voluntarily exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he led his platoon in an attack against a strongly fortified enemy position. When one of his men was wounded and fell in an open area within easy range of the enemy, Lieut. Small crawled forward under the intense fire sweeping the area and managed to pull the man back to safety. He then renewed his advance, deploying his platoon in a double envelopment movement which succeeded in knocking out 10 enemy positions. He is now a commander of a service company stationed in Korea.

On 20 Feb 1946 Joy was awarded the Purple Heart.

This is an award that no service man really wants to earn because it's awarded for "Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces"

He received the Bronze Star
(a step above a Purple Heart)
that's awarded for
“Heroic or meritorious achievement or service”

After the heading, etc. the body of the letter, dated 20 Feb 1946 states the reason for the award:

"...for heroic achievements in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Antipolo area, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 3 August 1945. Lieutenant Small led his platoon to an objective in the face of heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire, forcing the enemy soldiers to leave their positions. His platoon knocked out two machine guns, killing the crews, and several of the enemy riflemen. Then in the face of a determined enemy counterattack, he held his position, directing mortar fire, which together with the artillery fire concentrated on the objective, forced the enemy to completely evacuate the area. This enabled the company to occupy and consolidate the objective. Lieutenant Small's heroic action was highly instrumental in securing the object and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service..."

I'm not sure which award he was being given here, but it looks like he had already received the purple heart so it had to be one of many others.

Another newspaper article announcing his advancement to that of first lieutenant. It also gives the name of the division that he belonged to. I'm not sure if they do this anymore.

This is the patch the "Sight Seein' Sixth" or "Red Star" division wore on their uniforms.
Here is a link to see some actual footage about what the division was busy doing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcj_BeExvAI

Joy received a few other medals:

Philippine Liberation Medal for
participation in the liberation of the Philippine Islands
from 17 October 1944 to 3 September 1945

The American Campaign Medal - WW II (ACM) is granted to personnel who served one year of consecutive duty between December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946 and within the continental boarders of the U.S., as well as to those who served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside the borders of the U.S. but within the American Theater of Operations.

WW2
Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal was awarded for service between 7 December 1941 and 31 December 1946, both dates inclusive, with no minimum time in service requirement.

Army of
Occupation Medal
The medal was created in the aftermath of the Second World War to recognize those who had performed occupation service in either Germany, Italy, Austria, or Japan

Asiatic Pacific
Campaign Medal
awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945.

Once released to civilian life, he remained with his family in Maine. He watched as best he could over his youngest sister Valeda and was able to visit Laurel and Bessie out west a few times and they returned back East to visit him on occasion.

Missing picture

Here Bessie is with Lill and Joy in the early 1980's on their visit out west. That visit took place some time after August of 1983 because I had the pleasure of meeting them after Norman and Bessie had returned from their LDS mission.

During that visit, Aunt Lill (a nurse) was unexpectedly called upon to help my toddler who had tripped and fallen into the piano bench and received a gash above her eyebrow.

Joy Clarence Small

As all real heroes do, Joy remained true to his God and faithful to his wife and his family.

Funeral

Joy graduated from life 12 Dec 1984 in Ellsworth, Maine and returned to his heavenly home with honor. Lillian followed him into eternity two years later.

21 gun salute

He was buried with full military honors.

Including the 21 gun salute (each man shot 7 times, they gather the bullet casings and present them to the widow or designated relative/representative).

Nicolin Cemetery,
His baby sister Valeda is in the foreground.

His headstone