Joseph (Zach) S. Zachwieja, Jr.
Founding Life Member since 1999

Duty Position(s):
Platoon Leader

Relief:

Dates:
June 1960 - July 1961

Brief Army History:
Enlisted from 1951 - 1956
Commissioned Infantry, 1956 from OCS
Retired in 1972

Units:
Company K, 7th Infantry Division, Korea
Company D, 69th Infantry Division, Fort Dix
Icelandic Defense Force, Iceland
Company G, 10th Infantry Division, West Germany
Company A, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, West Germany
Company C, 6th Infantry Regiment, West Berlin
Headquarters Company, 1st Battle Group, 3d Infantry Regiment, Fort Myer
Mortar Battery (Honor Guard), 1st Battle Group, 3d Infantry Regiment, Fort Myer
Military Assistance Advisory Group, An Loc, Republic of Vietnam
Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg
US Army Depot Activity, France
US Army Depot Command, Western France
US Army Depot Command, United Kingdom
Company A, "B" Team, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam
HHC, S-3, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands
Company A, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands
XO, HHC, 1st Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands

zach2.gif (47972 bytes)

Personal gallery
Awards / Decorations:
Bronze Star
Purple Heart (2nd Award)
Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd award)
US Distinguished Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Service & Campaign Medals
11 various Awards
Tomb Guard Identification Badge
Army Parachutist Badge
Royal Thai Parachutist Badge
Republic of China Parachutist Badge
Philippines Parachutist Badge
Republic of Vietnam Parachutist Badge

Campaigns:

Vietnam

Highest Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)

Home City / State:
Philadelphia, PA

Date of Birth:
February 20, 1934

After the Army:
Nothing.  I settled back into the Philadelphia PA area.  After the last of our three children entered college, we moved to North Carolina in 1987, which we had thoroughly researched during my stay at Fort Bragg.

Current Occupation:
 Retired

Degrees/Schooling:
BA, Temple University

Most Memorable Moment at Tomb:
One Sunday, a blind lady in a wheel-chair was brought to the Tomb by her daughter. I happened to be present (and in uniform) at the time. I did some special maneuvering to get the lady in her wheel-chair within the chains and as close as possible to the site where the on-coming Sentinel is inspected; probably about 4 feet away.

When the actual inspection and change commenced I whispered into her ear everything that was taking place and continued relating what was happening throughout the entire changing of the Sentinels. At the end of the Guard Change, she thanked me by saying:

"I never thought I would be able to see the Changing of the Guard, but you made it possible."

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