S/Sgt. Joseph Imburgio Bulger Jr. was born on January 19, 1921, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Joseph I. Bulger Sr. and Elsie Tomm-Bulger. He had a sister and a brother. The family lived at 1103 North Broadway Avenue, Melrose Park, Illinois. Joe attended Central YMCA High School in Chicago before transferring to Proviso Township High School where he was a member of the class of 1939. After high school he went to the University of Illinois and became the manager of the football team. He registered with Selective Service on March 3, 1943, and named both his parents as his contacts. On APril 6, 1943, he was inducted into the US Army and given the serial number 36, 443, 033.
Inducted:
He received training at the University of Illinois, Fort Benning, Georgia, Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Camp McCann, Mississippi, Camp Wheeler, Georgia. It is known he was assigned to the Company L, 376th Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division and was at Camp McCann, Mississippi, when the unit learned it was being sent overseas in May 1944. The 94th spent a short time in England before it was sent to France landing at Utah Beach in September 1944. A few days later, on the 3rd, Joe was wounded. As part Gen. George Patton’s army, the 94th was sent to Lorient and St. Nazaire, France to relieve the 66th Infantry Division on New Years Day and fight the Germans holding the ports of Tettingen and Butzdorf, Germany on January 14, 1945.
It was while the 94th was attacking in the Besch, Germany area on February 19th, Joe was was hit by several pieces of shrapnel and killed while attempting to come to the aid of a wounded comrade. He was buried in the United States Military Cemetery Hamm, in Plot F, Row 9, Grave 202. The cemetery was located about two and one half miles from Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. His father received a letter, dated August 30, 1946 telling him the location of the cemetery and where his grave was located in it.
The Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, in a letter dated August 29, 1947, informed Mr. Bulger the options available to him for Joe’s final burial. His father was asked to fill-out an enclosed form and return it to the OQMG. The form was received by the September 11, 1947. Mr. Bulger indicated that he want his son’s remains buried in the United States.
Joe’s casketed remains were sent to the Antwerp Port-Pier 140 June 2, 1948. His casket was placed on the USAT Oglethorpe Victory which sailed on June 22nd and arrived in the New York Port of Entry on July 9th. On July 14th,by train his casket was sent to the Quartermaster Corp’s Distribution Center #8, in Chicago arriving there on July 16th. On August 19th, his casket with a military escort was sent to the Senne Funeral Home, Maywood, Illinois.
S/Sgt. Joseph I. Bulger Jr. was buried at the Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois, on August 20, 1948, in Section K, Lot 57, Grave 9.
