US Navy Ltjg Joseph Albert LeDew was born June 13, 1895 in Kent County, Rhode Island, the son of William Joseph LeDew (1872) and Rosanna "Rose" Guindon (1875-1918). His father supported his wife and five children as a painter. As a young man, Joseph enlisted in the US Navy and took part in WWI with a part of his time spent in Pensacola. Here, he met and married Irma Gladys Wheat (1900-1969) in 1919, daughter of Calvin M. and Eugenia D. Wheat.
Following the war, he spent his career in various duties and stations as an air crw member until he retired as an aviation carpenter's mate. Retiring to Pensacola, Joseph took a job at NAS as an electrician However, when WWII erupted in 1941 the military brought back certain retirees to fill stateside slots made vacant by younger sailors going overseas. One of those was LeDew who became the maintenance officer of Squadron 8-B at Bronson Field in early 1942. His son Thomas Albert "Tommy" would graduate from Catholic High in 1944 before following his father into the US Navy where he served in the latter part of WWII. However, after the war he was accepted into the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and would serve in Korea and Vietnam. He would retire a Captain prior to his death in 1991.
Then late on January 9, 1945, now LTjg Joseph Albert LeDew died suddenly at his home at 30 deRochblave Street at the age of 49-years old. He was buried with honors in Barrancas National Cemetery.
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