Beaufort’s Joe Pilon, 72, joined the United States Army in 1969 in Bay City, Mich. After Basic Training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was trained as a Combat Engineer with follow-on training at Fort Bragg, N.C., with the 82nd Airborne. He was then assigned to Vietnam, first building a highway from Nha Trang inland toward Cambodia, and then escorting 200-truck convoys from Cam Ranh Bay. Frequently in combat, after 10 months he was badly burned and medevaced to the VA Hospital at Valley Forge, Pa. He was in and out of treatment for six months, during which he was also assigned to Fort Knox in tanks provided to the Combat Engineers.
In 1971 he was released and he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He later attended Officer Candidate School, earning a commission. He rose to Captain, deployed to Germany, was later assigned as a Warrant Officer and finally retired from the Guard in 1996. While in the Guard he worked as a Civil Servant for 29 years at the VA Hospital Coatesville, Pa., as Building Maintenance Supervisor.
He retired from government service in 2003 with a total of 34 years serving the nation and veterans. Today he works with Hospice of the Lowcountry and is a lifetime member of AMVETS, DAV, VFW and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 207. For Veteran Of The Week nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
