Joseph John Solem was born in Bridgewater, SD, on 27 August 1930, to Henry C. and Tossie Kerr Solem. Joseph had two brothers, Henry Rae and Robert. Joe graduated from Bridgewater High School in May of 1948.

Shortly after graduation and before he was eighteen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He entered active service on 30 July 1948, at Sioux Falls. He was sent overseas on 3 August 1950, as a part of the Headquarters Battery, 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division.

Master Sergeant Joseph John Solem was taken prisoner of war while fighting the enemy near Kunu-ri North Korea on 1 December 1950. On 12 January 1951, he wrote a letter to his parents stating that he “was in good health but that he was a prisoner of war in China.” His second letter, although undated, may have been later that spring because he wrote of weather nice enough for swimming and fishing. Because there was no further word from Joseph and his body was never recovered, the Adjutant General fixed his date of death as 15 August 1951, at Camp #1 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as “pellagra” which is a vitamin deficiency caused by an inadequate diet that can cause organs to shut down if untreated.

His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Medals and Awards

Bronze Star Medal with Combat Valor Device
Prisoner of War Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation