Joe B. Payne Jr.

Joe B Payne, Jr. 93, died of natural causes on Monday, March 10, 2014 at home in Locust Grove, Virginia. He was born in Kershaw, South Carolina in 1921, and left in 1939 for work with the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was with the Coastal Defense Artillery at Ft. Moultrie, S.C. and then the Panama Canal Zone. He was stationed in Panama until 1944 when he volunteered for active combat duty and joined the 2nd Battalion, 261st Infantry, 65th Division, of Patton’s U.S. 3rd Army. In early 1945, the 65th Division began its final push through southern Germany. By the end of April, the Division was at the Danube River near Regensberg Germany. The 261st Infantry was on the left flank of the assault across the Danube River, using small boats, toward Kapfelberg, a small village west of Regensberg. The assault was launched at 2 AM on the morning of 26th of April, 1945, and while Joe made it across successfully he was wounded by enemy and small arms and artillery fire while assaulting the heavily entrenched positions defending Kapfelberg. For his actions he received the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. Amongst the many other awards and medals he received, the one he was most proud of was his Combat Infantryman Badge. He was discharged in August 1945, but re-enlisted six weeks later. He was ordered back to Germany in 1947. Upon arrival, he was assigned to the U.S. Constabulary in Berlin as part of the Army of Occupation. He met his wife Eva Elisabeth Krause there, and began a 65-year marriage with her. He had additional assignments in the U.S. and Germany, and retired as a Sergeant First Class in 1966 to Summerville, and then Goose Creek, SC. He started a second career with the Civil Service at Charleston AFB’s Logistics Wing as a Computer Operator. He retired again in 1986, and lived with Eva in Goose Creek SC, Wiesbaden Germany, Hampton, Virginia and finally Manassas, Virginia. He is survived by one sister, Josephine E. Mosley of Heath Springs SC; his four children: Henry R. Payne (Mary) of Williamston, SC, Sylvia J. Chancellor (Gary), of Galveston, TX; Jeffery L. Payne (Miriam) of Lexington, SC; and Carol A. Payne (Kathy), of Manassas, VA; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. Services will be at Fort Myer with burial at Arlington National Cemetery Virginia following. Dates of the services will be announced as soon as they are determined by Arlington.

Joe B. Payne Jr.

February 25, 1921 - March 10, 2014