Joseph White, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, has endured a lifetime of physical and emotional challenges stemming from his service during the Vietnam War. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Joseph was raised in a family deeply rooted in military service. His father, a World War II combat veteran, was a major influence in shaping Joseph’s sense of duty and patriotism.
At just 19 years old, Joseph made the decision to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1966. He trained at Parris Island, where he quickly learned the discipline and resilience required to serve. However, just days before graduation, he suffered a serious injury when a drill instructor struck him with a rifle, breaking his jaw and requiring surgery. Despite this setback, Joseph persevered and continued his service.
He was later deployed to Vietnam, where he served for 13 months in a Combined Action Platoon in Quang Nam Province. During his time overseas, Joseph took on multiple roles, including working closely with Vietnamese forces, learning the language, and acting as an interpreter. He participated in dangerous operations, patrols, and coordinated missions facing life threatening situations on a daily basis. His service was marked by courage, adaptability, and a commitment to those beside him.
Today, Joseph is recognized by the VA as 100% disabled. He lives with severe mobility limitations, chronic pain in his legs, osteoarthritis, and complications from a shrapnel injury sustained during his service. He also suffers from a serious heart condition requiring multiple stents, high blood pressure, PTSD, tinnitus, and painful skin conditions caused by Agent Orange exposure. Due to his limited mobility, Joseph relies on a cane, walker, scooter, and at times a wheelchair to move throughout his home.
Daily life presents significant challenges. Joseph is unable to drive and is largely confined to his home. He requires assistance with many aspects of daily living and experiences frequent fatigue and instability when walking. The current layout of his bathroom poses a serious safety risk. The space is extremely tight, making it difficult to maneuver safely, and the bathtub requires him to lift his legs over a high threshold, something that is often too painful or impossible to do.
As a result, Joseph is frequently unable to shower safely and must rely on sponge baths. Even with assistance from his daughter, the space is too small for both of them to move safely, increasing the risk of falls. On many days, the physical strain makes bathing inaccessible altogether.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who made this project possible. A special thank you to the Marine Corps League John Basilone Chapter, and especially Jan and Karen, for their generous contribution of $1,000 in support of this project.
We are deeply grateful to Gloria Dittman for her incredibly generous donation of $15,000, which plays a significant role in bringing this life-changing project to completion.
We would also like to thank the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Charities of Paterson, along with Dave Pearson and Hazel Yaptangco of Catholic Charities Paterson, for their continued support and commitment to serving our veterans.
Because of the generosity of this incredible community, we are able to provide Joseph with the safety, dignity, and accessibility he deserves.
Before
Joe's Service Photo
