Joseph Gereaghty

On December 31 st the last evening of 2020 one of Americas Greatest Generation Joseph F. Gereaghty age 96, passed away. Born December 23, 1924 Joe was from FISHTOWN, USA (a neighborhood in Philadelphia) and over the past 30 plus years lived in the “Irish Riviera” (North Wildwood NJ).   He attended Immaculate Conception grade school and Northeast High school and worked as a Welder for the Kensington Ship Yard Philadelphia, PA. before joining the United States Navy on August 13, 1943. He was sent to the Naval Training Center Great Lakes, ILL. Naval Air Training Center Jacksonville, FL, Amphibious Training Base Camp Bradford, Norfolk, VA. And Gunners Mate school at Navy Pier Chicago, ILL. He was a Seaman First Class and assigned to the Naval Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet. He served on the LST’s (Tank Landing Ships). LST-599, LST-780 and LST-824 responsible for landing troops, tanks and supplies on beachheads in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.   Joe saw action on the islands of Eniwetok, Guam and Saipan. He participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto in March and April of 1945 when LST-599 was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze at Kerama Retto, Okinawa April 3, 1945. For the remainder of the War they shuttled supplies between Okinawa and the Philippines in preparation for a possible invasion of Japan. He also performed occupational duty in the Far East seeing service in China until mid-September 1945. Joe was honorably discharge on December 29, 1945. For his service during World War II, Joe received the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, World War II Victory Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp.   When Joe returned home from the war he worked as a Teamster in the trucking industry for nine years. In June 1953 he joined the ranks of the City of Philadelphia Police Department and graduated with police academy class #107 and wore badge # 1951. He was assigned to the 6 th Police District covering downtown (Center City) Philadelphia, he was an acting Sergeant in the early 1960’s.   In 1963 Joe was transferred and assigned to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as a Police Officer/ DA Detective. Because Philadelphia is the only City & County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania personnel from the Philadelphia Police Department can be laterally moved and permanently assigned to the DA’s Office. They work in the capacity of a District Attorney Detective otherwise known as a County Detective, police personnel and county detective personnel work hand in hand. Joe was assigned to the Major Trial Unit working on felony cases throughout the city. Joe was also assigned to the Sex Crimes Squad, Special Investigation Squad, Private Complaint Unit, Fraud Unit, Victims/Witness Unit, Homicide Unit, and Warrant Unit being sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshall and traveling throughout the United States. During Joe’s last assignment he assisted with the reorganization of the Witness Subpoena Unit. Throughout his 15 years at the DA’s Office Joe worked under four-elected District Attorney’s: James C. Crumblish, Arlen Spector, Edward Rendell, and Emitt Fitzpatrick.   Joe was married to his late wife Ann (nee Mohollen) for 67 years they had three children Margaret Dymowski (Edward), Joseph William and Diane Maguire (Michael), five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, one great-great grandson. Brother to the late John, Michael, Mary, Bonnie, Aggie and Peggy.    Joe was entered into the Pennsylvania Police Hall of Fame in 2006. Joe was one of the original 13 founders of the County Detectives Association of Pennsylvania, at the time Joe was the only County Detective or the other 12 founders were all Chiefs of Detectives. Joe was also one of the co-founders of Pennsylvania Region 13 of the International Police Association. He assisted with obtaining the charter and served as the first President of Pennsylvania Region 13 for two terms.     Joe was a 67-year member of the Fraternal Order of Police Philadelphia Lodge 5. Life Member of the County Detectives Association of PA & International Police Association PA Region 13, Cape May County Emerald Society, Knights of Columbus Our Lady of the Rosary Council 2527, the Loyal Order of the Mouse Wildwood Lodge 585 and Greater Wildwood BPO Elks Lodge 1896.