Joseph William “Joe” Kerico was born 15 July 1921 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, the son of Helen (nee O’Brien) Kerico. His Father died before 1930. Joe attended the Hershey Industrial School where he was a Standout Athlete on the School’s Football and Baseball Teams, as well as the Track and Field team. On the football team, he played the fullback position, and thrilled the fans with his driving, yard gaining running plays, and his seemingly impossible catches of the passes thrown by the Quarterback. On the Baseball team, he was a pitcher, and had an exceptional fastball pitch. On the Track and Field Team, Joe set a new record in the Javelin throw. Joseph William Kerico graduated from the Hershey Industrial School in 1940.

On 27 Octber 1943, Joseph William Kerico enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was sent for training. He was chosen to be trained as a bombardier, and as an Aviation Cadet, he as stationed at the Big Spring Army Airfield in Texas, where the Bombardier Training School was located.

On 16 April 1945, during a Training Mission, Aviation Cadet Joseph William Kerico and nine other young men were killed in the mid-air collision of two AT-11 Medium Bomber training aircraft. The body of Joseph William “Joe” Kerico was returned to Pennsylvania, and he was buried in the Annunciation Cemetery, in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Joe was survived by his Mother, Helen (nee O’Brien) Kerico Hall, his Brother, Francis S. “Frank” Kerico, and his Sisters, Jane and Mary Kerico; and other relatives. Big Spring Daily Herald, Big Spring, Texas, Tuesday, April 17, 1945