Joseph Charles Chalker

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer, U. S. Navy

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Order No. 43 (March 15, 1942) & Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 306 (September 1942)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) (Posthumously) to Machinist's Mate Second Class Joseph Charles Chalker, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving with Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron THREE (MTB-3), from 11 to 13 March 1942, in the Philippine Islands during a extraordinary action in a retrograde maneuver involving General Douglas MacArthur.
With marked skill and coolness, Machinist's Mate Second Class Chalker performed this mission of major strategic importance and of a most hazardous nature in the face of greatly superior enemy forces. His conduct throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Military Forces of the United States.

Joseph C. Chalker, U.S. Navy, MM2 was stationed in the Philippines during World War II. He and four others (members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and the Allied Forces) worked together to help some missionaries escape the invading Japanese. The group was captured, summarily beheaded, and buried in a mass grave. The bodies were recovered in 1949 and buried toegher at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.