Walter James Joos

"Retired Air Force Major Walter J. Joos, 75, died Thursday at his home in Coulterville..." begins Walt's obituary in an unknown newspaper.

Walter James Joos was born November 15, 1915 in San Francisco, California to Charles Joos and Eva McGarvie.

You can't help talking about the military and especially WWII when you talk about Uncle Walt. In his 21 years of service to the Army Air Corp/ Air Force (1940 to 1961) he earned 29 medals and decorations, including:

6 Bronze Stars
1 Silver Star
The Distinguished Flying Cross
The American Defense Medal
The Korean Medal
A Purple Heart

The obituary continues:

"The (Purple Heart was given) for injuries received August 11, 1944 flying a mission over Germany. After the hit, he was honored as Hero of the Week by the city of San Francisco for helping safely bring down his plane, “The Mammy Yokum”, a B-26 Marauder.

A Bombardier and navigator with the 98th Bombardier Squadron, he served the Strategic Air Command from November 1940 through January 1961.

He was the US Air Force representative at the dedication of a chapel in England commemorating the Americans killed during the Battle of Britain. When he retired, he bought property in Santa Rosa, where he lived until moving to Coulterville a year ago.

Major Joos, a member of the American Legion in Marin, was a counselor for Boys State for 10 years. He is survived by a brother, Charles M Joos of Concord; a sister, Lorraine Pierce of Coulterville, and numerous nieces and nephews, including Evelyn Flores of Coulterville.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 1 pm, the Lake Don Pedro Baptist Church. Heuton memorial chapel is in charge of arrangements. Donations in Major Joos’ memory may be made to the American Heart Association."

My father also remembers he flew with the 5th Air Force in B-17’s

There are several websites dedicated to Marauder history. Here is a picture of the Plane Nobody Loves, shown below is an actual photo of "Walt's plane", with successful bombing embellishments AND his name painted on the side. Walt himself is there front and center. (Notice the before-after shots...)

Personally, I remember going to his house in Santa Rosa when I was a little girl. Walt and my dad would reminisce (or whatever) in the house while my brother and I chiefly played outside in the back yard. The area was wooded and at the bottom of a hill. There was a nice patio with a few large aviary enclosures off to the right. I remember dozens of colorful birds in there, parakeets, finches, and probably canaries, too. Just beyond was a shed he kept the Trout Chow in, which was fun to toss out into the pond at the end of the day so you could see just how many fishy mouths there were to feed. Walt's pond was where I learned to love fishing. It helps when it's easy fishing to gain enthusiasm, and fishing from the wooden bridge, trying to out-cast my brother while catching glimpses of our 'prey' below added to the rich memories. I don't even know exactly how many times we were there, but I'll never forget it.
I remember once going in the house and seeing the walls covered with military memorabilia that made little sense to me at the time.