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The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: WWII

"These are men! Our men! When did you forget!"
— Joseph Turner to Pierson

First Lieutenant Joseph Turner is a character that appears in Call of Duty: WWII. He provides ammunition for the player and is a father to his men, often in battle with William Pierson, who is an antagonist to the squad.

Biography[]

Joseph Turner was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1913 and went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating and receiving his commission as an officer in 1938. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and was allied with Second Lieutenant William Pierson in 1939. In February 1943, Turner participated in the Battle of Kasserine Pass alongside Pierson, who disobeyed orders to retreat and went to save his men who were trapped at the pass. Pierson's men died as a result of his actions, with the Axis powers scoring a win. Turner was there (or as stated by Perez) and wrote the Article 15 and demotion of Pierson, who became embittered and apathetic towards his platoon. After the event, Pierson was kept on the reigns by Turner, often watching him by the shoulder.

D-Day[]

On June 6th, 1944, Turner and Pierson led a squad through the invasion of Normandy. The squad consisted of Private First Classes Ronald "Red" Daniels and Robert Zussman, Technician Frank Aiello, and Private Drew "College" Stiles. Despite heavy casualties, the squad pushed through the German defenses, clearing each bunker and destroying the artillery gun. After Pierson gave Daniels a cold welcome to the 1st infantry division, Turner gives the private a warm welcome, honoring his bravery and courage of finishing the objective and saving Zussman. After doing so, he comforted Daniels by telling him he will be alright, with the private agreeing so.

Operation Cobra[]

Marigny[]

Joining forces with the SOE[]

Having a briefing with Colonel Davis, Turner is informed of the Germans arming a train with V-2 rockets in France. Davis orders Turner and Pierson to aid S.O.E. members Arthur Crowley and Vivian Harris to stop it. At the train station, the platoon and allies are caught and battle their way to the train, successfully doing so by Daniels and Zussman driving a Kübelwagen in the front of it, derailing it. French Resistance leader Camille "Rousseau" Denis saves Daniels and Zussman, and returns them back to the group.

Liberating Paris[]

Turner and his platoon aid Rousseau and the S.O.E. in liberating Paris. Rousseau disguises herself to collect bombs from her informant, Fischer. Rousseau succeeds in the swap after killing Heinrich. The allies launch the assault after the bombs go off, liberating Paris as everyone celebrates.

Aachen[]

Turner's platoon is pinned down by enemy fire in the German city of Aachen. They request tank support from Augustine Perez's tank unit. After they are saved by Perez, Turner resumes their objective to Hotel Allendorf, the last German stronghold in the city. After battling German soldiers, they arrive to the hotel and clear the hotel of German soldiers. After clearing the hotel, they decide to investigate the basement of the hotel. Turner hears a child's voice and asks if Daniels has some candy. A German little girl named Anna runs to Daniels leading to the discovery of German citizens who had fled to the hotel. Turner decides to evacuate the German citizens and orders Daniels and Aiello to get the abandonOpel Blitz. Daniels and Aiello later arrive and place the German citizens on the truck, however, when her Anna's sister realizes she is not with them, Daniels decides to go find her. Later, more German soldiers arrive at the hotel and engage in a firefight with the Americans. During, the exchange of gunfire several bullets hit the truck and kill one of the civilians. Later, at their field headquarters, Davis is seen reprimanding Pierson and Turner as their orders were to take the hotel, not evacuate citizens. Pierson tries to take the blame, but Turner admits he was the one who gave the order.

Battle of the Hürtgen Forest[]

Hill 493 and Death[]

"No sacrifice too great. Go."
— Turner's last words to Pierson.

After the Tiger II tank is destroyed and two of the German tank crew personnel are seen escaping the tank and are killed by Turner, he then is shot in the ribs by the commander of the same tank. Daniels pulls him back to one of the trenches but Turner, knowing he is mortally wounded, tells Daniels and his squad to fall back while he gives them covering fire. He desperately stands and fires his Thompson but is soon cut down by the advancing Germans.

Legacy[]

Pierson: "Turner is dead!"
Daniels: "Then make that mean something! No sacrifice too great!"
— Pierson and Daniels about the concept of sacrifice.

Pierson led the squad, making Daniels his second-in-command in Belgium. Despite Turner's pleas for Pierson to take care of his men, he becomes colder and professes that Daniels is in "Pierson's world" now. Red snaps Pierson out of this before the battle of the Rhine, leading to an Allied victory and saving Zussman from the German labor camp. In the Epilogue, it's revealed that Red named his son after Turner, honoring his sacrifice on the hill.

Personality[]

"Always lookin' over Pierson's shoulder is Lieutenant Turner. He's got 'im on a tight leash."
— Red describing Turner in the opening cinematic.

Joseph Turner was a father to his men, showing compassion and loyalty to them above all else as they pushed through Europe. Turner always put the lives of others over the mission. This is noticeable in "Collateral Damage" when trying to save German civilians, and in "Hill 493" when learning that many were killed on Pierson's watch.

Turner's relationship with Pierson was strained, as the two had known each other before the start of the war. After Turner had Pierson demoted, the two were hostile and pushed each other to their limits. That being said, the two respected each other, as Pierson told Turner it was an honor to serve with him before the latter's death.

Quotes[]

"None of us could have prepared for that. But you came through when it counted. {...} You'll be alright, son."
— Turner to Daniels at the end of "D-Day".
"To hell with our goddamn orders! {..} These are men! Our men! When did you forget?"
— Turner to Pierson in Hill 493.


Gallery[]

Video[]

References[]

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