Joseph E. Frederick, a native of Johnson City, Broome County, New York, was born December 15, 1912 and died June 11, 1998. He was a graduate of Binghamton High School and studied chemistry at the University of Iowa and physics at Cornell, although he did not graduate. He joined the ROTC as a cadet in August 1934, and later worked as a chemistry teacher at Binghamton Central High School and a shoe inspector at the Endicott Johnson Corporation before joining the Army and beginning basic training in March 1942. Frederick was a chemical technician and later became part of the Army’s Chemical Warfare Service. He likely served in the Army until 1945.

The U.S. Army Signal Corps was a branch of the Army created by Congress on March 3, 1863. It was responsible for communications during World War II—first by semaphore, then telegraph. It was later responsible for telephone and radio communications, and eventually radar and sonar technology. The Signal Corps’ photographic division was established in 1917. During WWII, the Signal Corps increased from 27,000 to over 350,000 personnel. The photographic division captured many historic moments with the purpose of furthering the Allied cause; it also created training films and documented combat missions. In addition to providing news, training, and promotional materials, Signal Corps photographers aided in documenting Nazi atrocities during WWII. The Signal Corps was abolished on February 28, 1964.