Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Joseph
Richard
Lacy
October 19, 1912

–

May 18, 1990

Cemetery:

Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery

Joseph Lacy was ordained a Catholic Priest in Rome on March 19, 1938. He voluntarily entered the U.S. Army in July 1943, and was assigned to Chaplains School for training at Harvard. He volunteered for service with the 5th Ranger Battalion in June 1944, just in time for the D-Day operation. On D-Day, as his ship took his battalion across the English Channel to land at Normandy, Chaplain Lacy told the men, “When you land on the beach and you get in there, I donÕt want to see anybody kneeling down and praying. If I do IÕm gonna come up and boot you in the tail. You leave the praying to me and you do the fighting.” He landed in the lead boat on Omaha Dog Green Beach, approximately 7:30 a.m. June 6, 1944. He was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame in 1996.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Batallion:

    5th Ranger Battalion

    Regiment:

    Provisional Ranger Group (Separate)

    Action Date:

    June 6, 1944
    Headquarters, FIRST U.S. Army, General Orders No. 28 (June 20, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Joseph Richard Lacy (ASN: 0-525094), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Chaplain with the 5th Ranger Battalion, Provisional Ranger Group (Separate) in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, in France. In the invasion of France, Chaplain Lacy landed on the beach with one of the leading assault units. Numerous casualties had been inflicted by the heavy rifle, mortar, artillery and rocket fire of the enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety, he moved about the beach, continually exposed to enemy fire, and assisted wounded men from the water’s edge to the comparative safety of a nearby sea wall, and at the same time inspired the men to similar disregard for the enemy fire. Chaplain Lacy’s heroic and dauntless actions exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.