Asturians under American flag
Historical page about of those young people of Asturian origin who participated with the US in World War II.
WW2 Navigator Badge
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The medal was established on July 2, 1926, and is currently awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Joseph Anthony Artimez was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on October 21, 1922, being the first-born of two brothers from the marriage formed by Marcelino Menendez Artimez (Salinas – Asturias – 1899) and Carmen Menendez (Clarksburg – West Virginia – 1906) whose origin paternal father was from Piedras Blancas, Asturias.
The family moved to Niagara Falls in 1929 where his father would work at Union Carbide, a chemical plant, and his mother as an inspection supervisor at a Bell Aircarft manufacturing plant during the war years. Joseph would attend Niagara Falls High School until his enlistment on December 29, 1942.
Joseph was specialized as a navigator after 20 weeks of training and was assigned to the 830th Bombardment Squadron as part of a B-24 Liberator crew under the 485th Bomb. Group of the 15th Air Force, based in Venosa, Italy.
From this base it carries out long-distance bombing missions to strategic targets such as oil refineries, industrial centers, military airfields, etc. in Italy, France, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria and Germany, reaching the number of 50 missions in September 1944, being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and three Air Medals (AM).
On June 20, 1945, he married Emily Lemon in Harris, Texas and was honorably discharged on November 6 of that same year, residing in Niagara Falls and working the following years as an insurance agent.
Joseph A. Artimez would die on November 12, 2003 at the age of 81, being buried in Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park, in New Braunfels, Guadalupe County, Texas.
Joseph Anthony Artimez nace en Clarksburg, West Virginia, el 21 de octubre de 1922, siendo el primogénito de dos hermanos del matrimonio formado por Marcelino Menendez Artimez (Salinas – Asturias – 1899) y Carmen Menendez (Clarksburg - West Virginia - 1906) cuyo origen paterno era de Piedras Blancas, Asturias.
La familia se traslada a Niagara Falls en 1929 donde su padre trabajaría en Union Carbide, una planta de productos químicos y su madre como supervisora de inspección en una planta de fabricación de Bell Aircarft durante los años de guerra. Joseph cursaría estudios en el Niagara Falls High School hasta su alistamiento el 29 de diciembre de 1942.
Joseph se especializa como navegante tras 20 semanas de formación y es destinado al 830th Escuadrón de bombardeo como parte de una tripulación de B-24 Liberator encuadrada en el 485 Bomb. Group de la 15 Air Force, con base en Venosa, Italia.
Desde esta base realiza misiones de bombardeo de larga distancia a objetivos estratégicos como refinerías de petróleo, centros industriales, aeródromos militares etc. en Italia, Francia, Yugoslavia, Hungría, Austria y Alemania alcanzando el numero de 50 misiones en septiembre de 1944, siendo condecorado con la Cruz de vuelo distinguido (DFC) y cuatro Medallas aéreas (AM).
El 20 de junio de 1945 contrae matrimonio con Emily Lemon en Harris, Texas y es licenciado con honores el 6 de noviembre de ese mismo año, residiendo en Niagara Falls y trabajando los siguientes años como agente de seguros.
Joseph A. Artimez fallecería el 12 de noviembre de 2003 a los 81 años de edad, siendo enterrado en Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park, en New Braunfels, Guadalupe County, Texas.