Corporal Joseph E. Muench, a Grand Island resident, enlisted in the Army in 1969 and served as a rifleman with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment. On September 10, 1969, his battalion was assigned to a clear and search operation for enemy positions in the highly contested Binh Dinh Province, an operation that lasted a month and brought many casualties to the battalion. On October 4, Joseph E. Muench was hit and killed by enemy small arms fire. For many heroic acts during this operation and in the months leading up to his death, he received the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and many other medals for his service, and he was laid to rest at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in Scio, New York.