ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:

Joe Fostino, U.S. Army Veteran, suffered from Alzheimer’s
Joseph A. Fostino was born on January 20, 1926 on the south side of Chicago. Except for his time in the Army, he lived there all his life. Like many youngsters who grew up during the Great Depression day, Joe only completed the tenth grade. Along with thousands of others like him, Joe became a soldier in the United States Army on 4 May 1944 shortly after his 18th birthday. He served in Europe and near the end of the
conflict, just as he was poised to invade Berlin, the Russian army arrived and his unit was recalled to France. From there he was sent to San Francisco where his unit, along with thousands of other soldiers, spent two
weeks of intensive training in preparation for a beach invasion of Japan. As he was traveling east by ship, the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan and World War II came to an end. Joe’s unit went on to the Philippines where he learned his civilian trade, truck driving. He fought with the Eagles 86th Infantry Division, Black Hawks. Joe left the armed services on April 16, 1946. On August 24, 1962, Private First Class
Joseph A. Fostino, of the United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground combat against the enemy during WWII in the European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Joe never mentioned this honor to most of his friends and co-workers.

Joe married “Jean” (Virginia) Gaeta on May 19, 1948 and they had three children, Jimmy (1953), Janet (1956), and Joann (1959). Tragedy struck early for Joe and Jean
when Janet was born severely handicapped. Janet was placed in a state institution at the age of twelve.
Joe’s wife, Jean, passed away in the summer of 1999. Friends and relatives alike feel that the death of his wife marked the beginning of Joe’s long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Joe loved driving his big rig almost as much as he loved his family. He drove big rigs his entire working life, mostly for the Teamster’s Local 705.

He was a devoted husband, father and friend as well as a war hero. Joe will be sorely missed by all those
whose lives touched his over the years. He leaves behind three children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Alzheimer's doesn't care who it strikes. Every one has a story about his or her life before this terrible disease came along and took it from them.  Share yours!

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/