Joseph A. Cardinale was born in Syracuse, New York in 1925, and raised in Rochester, New York. His parents were Italian immigrants and he lived with his aunt. When he entered public school, he did not know how to speak English because only Italian was spoken in his household. He had an older and younger brother. His father worked as a barber until he became ill. During the Great Depression [Annotator's Note: The Great Depression was a global economic depression that lasted from 1929 through 1939 in the United States], there was always a minimal amount of money, but food was always available to him. He was unaware of the worsening global military situation in the late 1930s and was surprised by the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He was leaving a local roller skating rink when he heard people talking about it. After the war broke out, Cardinale did not see much difference happening in the United States. The war was being fought on foreign soil and not in America. His older brother was not qualified to go into the service because he was mentally ill. Cardinale did not do much to contribute to the war effort because he was too young for most things. He was involved in music, playing the saxophone. After the war in Europe ended, Cardinale was drafted in Summer 1945 and inducted at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He attended a dance where a band was playing. He was able to sit in for one of the bandmates.

Joseph A. Cardinale was drafted into the Army in the summer of 1945 and sent to Fort Knox [Annotator’s Note: Fort Knox, Kentucky] for basic training. While at Fort Knox he was placed in the 228th Army Ground Forces Band where he played clarinet. Cardinale played for visiting generals and officers in the daytime and in various dance bands in the evenings. He remembered when the war ended, but was told he was not allowed to go home yet. Cardinale was happy the war was over, and that he would not be sent into combat. He continued to play in the Army band and in dance bands. He was making a lot of money, especially when he became a sergeant. He was promoted because he became the solo clarinet chair in the band. He performed at the 1946 Kentucky Derby [Annotator’s Note: The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky]. He was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in January 1947.

Joseph A. Cardinale’s most memorable experience of World War 2 was VE-Day [Annotator's Note: Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945] because he was reminded that just because the war was over, it did not mean he was going home right away. He served in the war because he was drafted. The war changed his life because he was leading a military life and not a civilian life. He had to learn the military regimentation, including waking up early. Cardinale is happy and proud to have served in World War 2. Winning the war gave America its freedom. He believes there should be institutions like the National WWII Museum [Annotator's Note: The National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana], and we should continue to teach World War 2 to future generations because it was an important event in history that we should not forget.