Joseph Samuel Turner

Joseph Samuel Turner passed away in Petaluma on May 21, 2019 at the age of 95. He was born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924 in Petaluma to William and Myrle (Peoples) Turner. Joe was a lifelong resident of Sonoma County and a graduate of Petaluma High School where he met his wife, Margaret Wolfe.

Joe is survived by his brothers Martin (Carol) Turner and Delmer (Doris) Turner all of Petaluma; his six children Michael (Linda) Turner, Steven (Dorothea) Turner, Richard Turner, Karin (Brad) Seder, Susan (Paul) Konanz and Bryan (Loretta) Turner all of Sonoma County. 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Margaret, his parents William & Myrle, sister Geraldine (Newt) Petersen, brother William (Mary) Turner and daughter Judy Turner.

Joe was an active member of the Two Rock Presbyterian Church, the Penngrove Social Fireman, SIRS 147 of Petaluma and the Golden Roosters RV Club. He worked for many years as a carpenter and then retired after 21 years as a construction inspector at the Presidio in San Francisco. In retirement he and Margaret traveled, enjoyed camping with grandchildren and our yearly reunions at Hendy Woods State Park. He loved his family, social events, sports and a good meal. Joe was always ready to lend a hand and was the first to volunteer to work on a project or make that repair.

A graveside service with military honors will take place at Two Rock Presbyterian Church cemetery, 7063 Bodega Ave, Petaluma on June 15 at 11:30 am. Due to space constraints, the memorial service will be held at the Community Church of Sebastopol, 1000 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol at 1 pm on the same date with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to Two Rock Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice.

Joe and his three brothers all served overseas during WWII and returned home to Petaluma after the war. In 2017 Joe and his brothers Martin and Delmer were honored as Grand Marshalls of the Petaluma Veteran’s Day Parade – all Petaluma natives, all still living in Petaluma. Below is an account of Joe’s service as dictated to his family:

Joseph Samuel Turner

Staff Sergeant

130 Infantry

33rd Division, Company B

I was born in Petaluma on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924 to parents William and Myrle Turner at Petaluma General Hospital on Sixth Street. My father (Bill Turner) worked on the PSR Railroad, at my grandfather’s grocery store on Roblar and Petersen Roads and later at the Petaluma Feed Mill. My mother was a homemaker, caring for my sister, myself and my three brothers.

We lived on Roblar Road and I attended Dunham School through the 4th grade. The depression took its toll – my dad lost his job and things were tough for everyone. We moved to a smaller place in Penngrove, planted a big garden and raised our own chickens, hogs and cows. I went to Penngrove School, graduating from the 9th grade and then on to Petaluma High School.

During my senior year of high school, the country was at war and the draft board was calling up classmates as soon as they turned 18. Our principal pleaded with the local draft board to wait a few months to allow the boys to graduate and earn their diplomas before going off to war. I graduated the first week of June 1943 and on June 10, I was in the U.S. Army, on my way to basic training at Camp Roberts.

I spent 6 months in basic training – it was quite an experience. We trained on everything from K.P. duty to guard duty; rifle drills, field drills and gas mask drills – always during the hottest part of the day. We received shots, got a haircut every week, and thankfully, received lots of letters from home.

After basic training my unit was delivered to Angel Island, awaiting transfer overseas. In December 1943, we were shipped out on a luxury liner, the Loraline, retrofitted to serve as an army transporter to Hawaii.

We spent time on Kauai with more training, getting used to the wet and humid conditions. I spent my off-time shopping for an engagement ring as I had proposed to my sweetheart, Margaret Wolfe, and wanted to send a ring back to Petaluma. I cherished the letters from Margaret, always sealed with a kiss – all the guys in my camp were jealous and teased me, but they were just wishing they had a girl back home that would write them letters nearly every day. I even received a notice to “please advise sender not to render lipstick to v-mail because it makes it unsuitable for micro-filming.”

From Kauai, we went to New Guinea. I was promoted to PFC and I was now in Company B, the 130th Infantry, 33rd Division. Our transport ship to New Guinea was followed by an enemy sub, forcing our ship to turn abruptly, sending soldiers flying across the deck. A destroyer was called in, dropped depth charges and took care of the sub. We landed safely in Finchhaven, New Guinea. I learned to unload ships, maneuvering the giant cranes and thought that a fine job, but it didn’t last long. We also spent time training in full combat gear, climbing up and down the sides of ships and received more training while patrolling the jungle.

We moved to Port Moresby across the island to join with the 33rd Fighter Group. The rain continued and the mud got so deep we had to pile pallets to create walkways to our tents. If you didn’t tie your boots up off the ground, by morning they would have floated away. We continued piling more pallets as they sank deeper in the mud. By this time, we were used to hearing the bombs drop every night and slept six men to a tent.

We were part of the second wave at the Battle of Morotai on September 15, 1944. Following that battle, we spent lots of time writing letters, playing cards and trying not to think about the next battle. We spend time on patrol, K.P., guard duty, patrols and training and doing our laundry.

I spent my second Christmas overseas, camped in the middle of a coconut grove. Thank goodness we still got mail and packages from home.

On January 9, 1945, we landed at the coast of Lingayen Gulf in full combat gear and made camp on the beach. There was more waiting and more training and then we were moved to Baguio in the Philippines. Baguio was already decimated by bombs and artillery when we received information the Japanese were bringing troupes back into the city. We were able to set up an ambush with our M-30 rifles, machine guns and mortars, and destroyed their convoy. We continued chasing the enemy out of their holes and caves, always with the rain coming down.

I was promoted to Staff Sergeant following the assault on Luzon. Not long after, our company was under fire in a rice paddy and I caught my foot in a hole and badly twisted my ankle. I spent three weeks in the camp hospital until I was able to bear weight and walk again. Not thinking much of my “injury”, I did not mention it in my letters home nor did I tell them I was in the hospital. Little did I realize the army routinely sent telegrams home when soldiers sustained any type of injury and were hospitalized. My mother received a telegram that I was wounded in action, but no other information – boy, did I get heck from my entire family for not keeping them up on all the news!

We heard the Germans surrendered in May, 1945 and on August 15 we learned the Japanese surrendered.

In September, I was shipped to Japan aboard the USS Sumpter to the island of Honshu, Kobe, Japan. It was crowded and very hot on board, but the food was great – fresh meat and real potatoes! Maybe I should have joined the Navy if this is how well they ate!

In Japan, snow was expected, and it was very cold. My duffle bag had not yet arrived, so I didn’t have any warm clothing and everyone slept on the hard floor because our cots hadn’t arrived either.

Our company served time as an M.P. outfit, pulling duty in a little town called Himeji that was right outside of camp. I was in charge of quarters and earned another ‘rocker’ – another stripe for my sleeve. One of my primary duties was to ensure the Japanese turned in all their weapons.

This was my third and final Christmas away from home. I awaited orders and finally on December 23, I boarded the troop carrier the USS Rodman for Los Angeles. While I waited on the docks in Japan, I ran into my neighbor from Penngrove, Wes Parkinson – it really is a small world! On January 3 we arrived in LA, I boarded another ship to San Francisco and experienced the roughest seas in all my recent travels. In SF, I got on a train to Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, California and was honorably discharged on January 9, 1946.

I took a Greyhound Bus (rifle and all) to Petaluma and received a wonderful homecoming.

Margaret and I were married on my birthday, just a few months later. We were married for more than 60 years and raised seven children before Margaret died in February 2007. We raised our family in Penngrove where I built a house right next door the home I grew up in – the home I still live in today.

Discharge papers include these notes:

WWII Victory Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/Bronze Star; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal;

Squad Leader: Served in the Asiatic-Pacific theatre in Luzon and New Guinea with the 33rd Infantry Division. Was in charge of 11 men in a rifle squad, was responsible for deployment of men and weapons to gain fire power while in combat against enemy.