Joseph A. Paradis

He was born in Augusta, Maine on August 4, 1930, the son of Arthur Paradis Sr. and Florence Boulet Cyr. However, he and his brother Arthur were under the care of the State of Maine. The state of Maine sent both to the Healy Asylum in Lewiston at a very young age. Joe and his brother were fostered in the loving family of George and Alise Marcoux of Lewiston.

He attended Holy Family School. He joined the Army at the age of 17. He served in the Korean Conflict with the 278th Infantry. While in Korea he was wounded and a POW, MIA for 29 days. His service to his country was from 1947 to 1951.

Upon discharge, he returned home and married Cecile Turgeon. He held various jobs in the L&A area until becoming disabled. Once disabled he advocated for all veterans and for all the local veteran’s organizations for many decades, as well as being a member of each. In 2002 he successfully petitioned the City of Lewiston to rename Heritage Park to Veterans Memorial Park. Joe and many other dedicated men and women became founders of the park.

He lived in the L&A area most of his life. He was a parishioner of Holy Family Church. Among his most enjoyable things to do were going out to eat and visiting the Maine coast with friends. He also liked to buy and sell things. He loved the pickup trucks that he owned and going to breakfast with his brother in their later years. His favorite place on earth was Boothbay Harbor.

He is survived by sons Paul Paradis (Janice) of Poland and Gerald Paradis Sr. also of Poland and daughter Diane Guimond of Auburn; Former wife Cecile Paradis; many grandchildren and their spouses; great grandchildren; great great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Joe is predeceased by sons Armand and Mark Paradis; grandson Brawn Paradis; brother Arthur Paradis and his wife Dolores; sisters Muriel (Arthur) Melanson and Gilberte Bernier, both of whom he was unaware of until later in life and loved with his whole heart! His very loving and cherished Marcoux family; parents George and Alise Marcoux; siblings Wilfred Marcoux, Maxim Marcoux, Antoinette Marcoux Begin and Marie Louise Marcoux Pepin; birth parents Arthur Paradis Sr. and Florence Boulet Cyr; and a very special friend Claire Guerette, whose entire family treated Joe with genuine affection and kindness.

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone at the South Paris Veterans Home. Dad received loving and professional care while there, especially God’s angels on earth in Unit B. Also, our sincerest gratitude to Josephine Stevens, primary care social worker at the VA clinic in Lewiston, for all the assistance she provided Dad and family over the many years.

A Funeral Mass honoring Joseph’s life will be celebrated on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Church. Committal Services along with a Military Honors service will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Joseph’s memory to the Maine Veterans Home, 477 High Street, South Paris, Maine 04281. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 4-8 PM at The Fortin & Pinette Group 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway in Lewiston, 784-4023. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.fortinpinettegrouplewiston.com .

Eulogy

Joe loved and enjoyed his childhood with the Marcoux family. At age 17, he enlisted in the Army. After completion of boot camp, went to Seattle, Washington where he boarded a ship for Korea. On November 1, 1950, he was wounded in the right leg and taken prisoner near Unsan, Korea. There were 29 other prisoners with Joe. As a result of being captured he was deemed missing in action. The Chinese forced the prisoners to march toward the Chinese border hungry and cold, as their American rescuers were in pursuit. Many of the prisoners were also wounded and slowing the progress of the Chinese towards their border.

In the newspaper back home in Lewiston dated 11-29-1950 an article appeared that told of the story of Joe’s capture and I quote, “29 American prisoners of war released by the Chinese Reds in a puzzling move last Friday, the Army announced today.” Let us have Joe tell us what happened that day of release as he told the Army investigators and documented by the Army.

“At our encampment a Chinese officer spoke to the 29 prisoners. The officer said, “I am going to need 2 volunteers to make their way to the American lines and I will let you go.” I and another GI (Unknown) volunteered. I was wearing only rags at the time and I took other rags along with us as we left camp. We walked through rice paddies and mud roads. On the day we left camp, I and the other GI encountered a checkpoint on a road. There were 2 machine guns stationed on both sides of the road. I waved the rags I had brought with me and yelled, Americans, Americans. Both I and the other GI were able to walk closer to the checkpoint. The officer in charge of the checkpoint, either a First Lieutenant or a Master Sergeant said that the arrival of the two Americans could be a trap and to send a number of tanks in the direction we had come from.”

The 27 other American POW’s were located and returned to the United States. Joe was brought to a hospital in Japan for treatment and then brought to the Letterman Army Hospital in California for surgery. All 28 other prisoners were taken to various hospitals throughout the United States. Joe was missing in action and a prisoner of war for 29 days.

Upon honorable discharge from the Army he returned to Lewiston, married and worked multiple jobs until at 42 years young. Due to internal medical issues retired at that age. Joe suffered from extremely high anxiety, heart issues and in 1997 it was discovered that he had prostate cancer. H endured cancer treatment until the age of 94. At 89 the family noticed that he was beginning to act differently. At 92 he was diagnosed with the devil’s curse, Alzheimer’s. This disease is life altering. Negatively impacting patient, family and friends. We pray that none of you will ever have to cope with this dreadful disease. If you do or have God bless you and yours!

Joe experienced traumatic events during his lifetime. His experience during the Korean Conflict, his two youngest sons passing, Armand and Mark, his divorce, cancer and Alzheimer’s. In spite of everything, he kept his sense of humor to the very end and as a result was genuinely loved by all his caregivers at M.V.H. Needless to say, he was a man of superhuman strength, loved all fellow veterans and his country. He loved family and friends, he loved us all but just couldn’t say it.