Shown is a headstone in Normady of Private James J. Farrell of Altoona, a member of the 506 Parachute infantry regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, killed on D-Day. Farrell was the uncle of State Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair), according to U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Blair).
Courtesy photo

U.S. Rep. John Joyce was part of a Congressional delegation that visited Normandy on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but Joyce had a personal connection with the visit that went beyond his official duties — in the person of his late father, Bernard.

Army Sgt. Bernie Joyce didn’t land during the D-Day assault, but “came in through Normandy 40 or 50 days” later, and was seriously wounded several months after that, during the Battle of the Bulge, the final and unsuccessful German offensive on the Western Front.

The Altoona native was saved by doctors in the field, then transferred to a temporary hospital in Paris to recover, ultimately receiving not only a Purple Heart, but a Bronze Star, his son said.

Bernie Joyce fought in Europe like many Blair Countians, Rep. Joyce said, while speaking by phone as he stood on Utah Beach, where he could see blue-green water and small waves on one side and rows of crosses on the hill above.

Four Blair Countians were killed on D-Day: Private John D. Steele of Hollidaysburg, Private Raymond R. Leonard of Altoona, Private William A. Francis of Altoona and Private James J. Farrell of Altoona, the uncle of State Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, according to Joyce.

Joyce’s father’s parents in Altoona got word of Bernie’s wounding, but had to wait months for an update, the representative said.

“How many families waited to hear the outcome?” Joyce asked rhetorically.

Bernie flourished after the war, however, working for Bethlehem Steel for a time in Baltimore, then becoming the City of Altoona engineer in 1974, a post he held until 1988, after which he continued as a consultant for the city until 1992, according to his obituary.

An engineering conference room in City Hall is named after him, and contains his Army medals, Joyce said.

“He dedicated his life to service,” Joyce said.

Thursday’s ceremonies included President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to Joyce and his spokesman Ben Mullany.

The day marked “a very sobering moment in history,” Joyce said.

The French were “incredible,” according to Joyce, who said they were welcoming and thankful.

They lined the small road on the way from the airport, holding American and French flags, and at the scene, greeted the American service members, all near or past 100, many in wheelchairs, with hugs and kisses on both cheeks, Joyce said.

“The gratitude is still here,” he said.

Farrell was a parachutist, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, whose plane was shot down, according to Ward.

His brother, Ward’s father, Patrick, was also a parachutist, and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Ward said.

Like her uncle, her father was part of the D-Day assault.

His plane was also shot down, but her father parachuted safely to the ground — only to be captured by the Germans.

He became a prisoner of war, and was held in Stalag 3C near Alt Drewitz, Prussia, Ward said.

“Imagine the telegram my grandmother got,” Ward said.

He was freed by the Soviets two years and one month later, she said, noting that after that, he was unable to find a job and ended up reenlisting.

The Farrell family was from Mill Run, according to Ward.

Her father was multi-talented, able to fix anything — even as he was well-read, she said.

He built the house where she grew up on Brush Mountain Road in Frankstown Township, according to Ward.

“I’m really proud of their service,” she said, speaking of both her father and her uncle.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.