Joseph F. Ambrose (May 24, 1896 – May 1, 1988), nicknamed "Doughboy Joe", was a U.S. World War I veteran who served in Company I,
140th Infantry,
35th Division, in the
American Expeditionary Forces. Born in
Joliet, Illinois, he was drafted into the
United States Army in 1917 and served until 1919. Ambrose became nationally known for this photograph, circulated by the
Defense Audiovisual Agency, depicting him attending the dedication day parade for the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 1982, at the age of 86. He was photographed wearing his
Doughboy uniform, helmet and field equipment, as well as carrying the American flag that had covered the casket of his son, Clement A. Ambrose, who was killed in the
Korean War in 1951. The photograph is in the collection of the
National Archives at College Park.
Photograph credit: Mickey Sanborn