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Remember... Joseph Dewitt Specht
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A multitude of West Virginians fought and died fighting the Axis Power during World War II. Many of the soldiers were just young men, who were barely old enough to enlist into the armed forces. One of these young men was Joseph Dewitt Specht, who was not even eighteen when he died in the military.
| Joseph Dewitt Specht, known to family and friends as Dewitt, was the only son of Joseph B. and Rosa Meadows Specht. He was born at home on October 30, 1927 at St. Albans, West Virginia. At birth, he weighed only 2 pounds and 3/4 of an ounce, and he had no hair or nails. He overcame his difficult birth to grow into a strong six-foot tall man. He grew up with his sister Christina at 420 C Street in St. Albans. Because Dewitt and Christina were the only siblings each other had, they became close during their childhood. She too joined the military and served with the 52nd WAC (Women Army Corp) Hospital Company at Ashford General Hospital. Dewitt loved pets as a teenager, especially his two horses and dog, Sailao. His neighbors remember him for his kindness and helpfulness. He often helped the older ladies by carrying their groceries home for them, and he gave the little children rides on his horses, Ruke and Box. As many young boys, Dewitt was a member of the Boy Scouts, where he learned survival skills that would later help him in the military. |  Joseph Dewitt Specht
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 Joseph Dewitt Specht
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He attended schools in St. Albans, including graduating from St. Albans High School. He was an average student in the majority of his subjects, but he excelled at his favorite subject, Civil War history. Dewitt was a popular student, which caused the other students to elect him Vice President of the senior class. In school, he was also involved in the Junior Order, the United American Mechanics, Hi-Y, the band, and the Company B 150 Infantry, State Guard. Along with all those activities, he found time to be actively involved in his church, the Presbyterian Church, and Sunday School. |
| Dewitt felt that he should join the armed forces and serve his country by fighting along with his fellow countrymen. During World War II, the government allowed seventeen-year-olds to enlist. Dewitt enlisted into the Marine Corps with the 6th Marine Division on his seventeenth birthday. The government sent him to Parris Island, Camp Le Jeune and Camp Pendleton for training before they sent him into combat. In April 1945, the Marines sent Private Joseph Dewitt Specht overseas to aid the Allies efforts in the South Pacific. He was there for only a few months before being killed on June 10, 1945 at Okinawa. His family requested that the government return his body to the United States, and they buried him at the Cunningham Memorial Park in St. Albans. Pvt. Joseph Dewitt Specht was one of the many West Virginians who lost their lives during World War II. |  Joseph Dewitt Specht
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West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
