Faces Bio

Joseph Morriggi was born on August 15, 1948, to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Morriggi.  His home of record is Garfield, NJ.  He had three sisters, Lois, Marion and Fran.  He graduated from Garfield High School in 1966.  Joe liked to shoot pool and tinker with cars.  He worked as a carpet installer.

Joseph entered the US Army in 1968.  His parents had been ill and unable to work so Joseph was the main support for the household.  For this reason, Joseph could have been released from service or received a special assignment, but Morriggi refused these offers because he was proud to serve his country.  He served with the 196^th Light Infantry Battalion, Americal Division.  He attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4).

Morriggi had 53 days of service left when he was killed in action on July 13, 1969 in Quang Nam, Vietnam.  He died from hostile small arms fire.  He was buried in his family plot on July 20, 1969, in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi, NJ.  His father died one year later.

Sources: Wendill Taylor (friend), newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.