YANK Magazine
YANK Magazine with on the cover Joseph 'Sonny' Arnaldo A/331st
This is my collection of YANK Magazines with on the cover Staff Sergeant Joseph "Sonny" Arnaldo. The GI in this covers is a true American hero. The photograph, which is in the official Unit History of the 331st 'We Saw It Through', appeared for the first time on the cover of YANK Army Weekly magazine from February 4, 1945. When this picture was taken by YANK's staff photographer Sgt. Reg Kenny, Joseph Arnaldo of New Bedford, Massachusetts, had just come off the line after 10 successive days of fighting. His hood and face covered with snow, Arnaldo had recovered from a temporary blindness when an 88 mounted on a Jerry tank was fired a few yards from him. Multiple photos must have been taken because there are slight differences in the photos that have been printed on the 8 different editions of the Yank magazines.
These eyes have seen a thousand miles
Perhaps they'll see a thousand more
These eyes have seen a thousand die
I pray to God to end this hellish war
These eyes have seen the bloody hedgerows in the rain
They've seen the tree bursts in the Hurtgen,
And the lifeless forms half buried in the snow
In the slaughter at Bihain
See It Through! The call to victory beckons
See through the mindless death and grinding pain
Damn these eyes, they've seen too much
To see it through again.
On the cover Staff Sergeant Joseph J. 'Sonny' Arnaldo (#31426150) who was with Company A, 331st Infantry Regiment.
click on the images to enlarge
S/Sgt Joseph J. Arnaldo
Staff Sergeant
Joseph J. Arnaldo
Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Arnaldo
Joseph Joaquim Arnaldo Jr. was born on December 24, 1917 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He attended a CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp for several years and was employed at the Cornell-Dubilier Electrical Corporation before going into the Army.
Joseph J. 'Sonny' Arnaldo was inducted on November 15, 1943 in Boston, Massachusetts. He entered into service on December 6, 1943 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He trained at Camp Blanding, Florida and at Fort Meade, Maryland before he was going overseas. Joseph Arnaldo became took part in three campaigns of the 83rd Infantry Division. He was wounded twice, the second time on April 7, 1945 and after these wounds he was evacuated toe the States and honorably discharged from the Lovell General Hospital in Fort Devens, Massachusetts on May 21, 1946. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Purple Heart Medal, the American Campaign Medal, European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, the WW2 Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded with the Marksman Rifle Badge
The wounds of World War Two would make it difficult for him later on in his life to earn a good living and obliged him to make frequent visits to the Veteran’s Affair hospitals. Joseph J. "Sonny" Arnaldo passed away on April 28, 1977, he is buried at the Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts.
When his Uncle died, his nephew Mitchel Williams didn’t really know him that well. However his Mother asked him to join her to his funeral and so he did. When travelling to New Bedford his Mom started talking about Sonny and Mitchell began to see a decorated WW2 veteran and a well attended wake and funeral. But arriving there he was stunned by the emptiness. Except for some family members he couldn’t but stare at the US flag that was draped over his coffin. It seemed impossible but the memory of this decorated WW2 hero was about to fade away. So he decided to make a website to honor and preserve the memory of his uncle Sonny Arnaldo and all others that served during WW2. In 2018 I had the uportunity to meet Mitchel and at his mother's house. We .....
click on the images to enlarge
Wartime photographs courtesy of Joseph Arnaldo's niece Mildred Williams and her son Mitchel Willams (Great-Nephew)