US Army PFC Edward Joel Foster was born in Clarence, Blount County, Alabama on March 1, 1926, the son of Green Berry Foster (1895-1962) and Edna Ruth Ballew (1900-1995). His father supported his family as a farmer while Edward listed himself as a mechanic for the Pure Service Station in Jay at the young age of 14-years-old. The family moved to Santa Rosa County prior to 1935 from Liberty, Blount County, Alabama.
When he came of age he enlisted in the US Army on June 30, 1944, and was sent to Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia for processing. After basic training he was assigned to either the 26th Infantry Division or the 26th Infantry regiment. His gravestone does not indicate which one. Both units arrived in Europe by different routes, but both were in the vicinity of where Edward was wounded. The 26th Infantry Regiment was sent first to North Africa and Sicily at the beginning of the war but before Edward enlisted. The 26th Infantry Division landed in France on Utah Beach on September 7, 1944 but did not enter combat a month later. Both would fight in the great Battle of the Bulge and its after actions. Regardless, Edward was wounded in the leg in Germany and was hospitalized there. After a lengthy time, he was sent home to Jay, Florida in hopes of convalescing. However, infection eventually set in and he was taken to the US Naval Hospital at NAS Pensacola where he passed away on August 4, 1945.
His remains were transported to Santa Rosa County and buried with honor in the Jay Cemetery, Jay, Florida.
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