Joe (Joseph) Mallon, Company Sergeant (retired), enlisted in the Defence Forces on his birthday in 1958. His father served during the Emergency and advised him to join the Army. His brother also served in the Defence Forces. He worked as an instructor training recruits and non-commissioned officers for much of his career and was serving as a Company Sergeant in the Cadet School in the Military College at the time of his retirement from the Defence Forces in 1989. He went overseas with the 32nd Infantry Battalion, which was the first Irish Battalion to serve in the Congo in 1960. He also served with the 38th Battalion in the Congo, the 11th Infantry Group in Cyprus and the 51st Infantry Battalion in the Lebanon. He was interviewed for the Military Archives Oral History Project on 15th February 2017.

Company Sergeant Joe Mallon speaks about the Niemba Ambush (November 1960) and outlines his memories and feelings on the incident. He mentions that he had a diary from this tour. He also notes that Trooper Browne's body was found while he was on tour with the 38th Battalion. Anthony Browne was from Rialto in Dublin. He was one of three soldiers who escaped the initial ambush but was later beaten to death by village men, some distance away. His body was recovered two years later. The nine Irish soldiers who died at Niemba were as follows: Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson of Carlow, Sergeant Hugh Gaynor of Leixlip, Corporal Peter Kelly of Templeogue, Corporal Liam Dougan of Cabra, Private Matthew Farrell of Jamestown, Dublin, Trooper Thomas Fennell of Donnycarney, Trooper Anthony Browne of Rialto, Private Michael McGuinn of Carlow, and Private Gerard Killeen of Rathmines. Some 25 Baluba tribesmen were also killed. In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon, a native of Ballysax in County Kildare speaks about his family's feelings on his tour to the Congo. Joe was 17 years of age when he first went to the Congo with the first group to travel there (32nd Battalion). He recalls the day they left Baldonnel and remembers Archbishop John Charles McQuaid blessing them and giving them general absolution. He recalls his feelings as he boarded the Globemaster plane at Baldonnel aerodrome. In July 1960, Irish troops were sent to the Congo as part of the United Nations force. The Belgian Congo became an independent Republic on 30 June 1960. Soon after, the Congolese government requested military assistance from the United Nations to maintain its territorial integrity. On 28 July 1960 Lieutenant Colonel Murt Buckley led the 32nd Irish Battalion (including Joe Mallon) to the newly independent central African country. From 1960 to 1964, 26 Irish soldiers lost their lives in the Congo.
Here, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon speaks about his first impressions of landing in the Congo in 1960 with the 32nd Battalion. He discusses the challenges of the hot climate as well as reactions to the vaccinations and inoculations which they had received in Dublin. In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon, a native of Ballysax in County Kildare speaks about his tour to the Lebanon with the 51st Infantry Battalion – May 1982 – Oct 1982. He discusses 'Operation Rubicon', which he states happened during this time. He recalls an incident when an Israeli officer attempted to take over his unit and outlines how he managed the situation. This seems to refer to the second major invasion of the Lebanon by Israel, which occurred in 1982 but was called by the Israelis as 'Operation Peace for Galilee'.
Here, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon reflects on his tour with the 32nd Battalion (32nd Infantry Battalion - Jul 1960 – Jan 1961) and discusses the loyalty and discipline within the battalion. He also reflects on loneliness on a tour and the importance of keeping oneself occupied as much as possible. In July 1960, Irish troops were sent to the Congo as part of the United Nations force. The Belgian Congo became an independent Republic on 30 June 1960. Soon after, the the Congolese government requested military assistance from the United Nations to maintain its territorial integrity. On 28 July 1960 Lieutenant Colonel Murt Buckley led the 32nd Irish Battalion (including Joe Mallon) to the newly independent central African country. From 1960 to 1964, 26 Irish soldiers lost their lives in the Congo. In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon outlines how he was selected for the 32nd Battalion tour of the Congo in 1960. He recalls going on the first ever summer camp to Duncannon Fort, Wexford. After two days in the Summer Camp a Muster Parade was ordered. Lieutenant Dan Duffy then read out that the United Nations had requested the Irish Government to send a battalion to the Congo. He informed the assembled soldiers that those who wanted to Volunteer for the tour should step forward. Joe outlines how quickly they ended up in the Congo from the moment they heard about it. The Muster Parade was on the Monday and by the Friday (27 July 1960), they were on the Globemaster plane towards the Congo. Duncannon fort was built on this site by Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. The present fort was built in 1587–88 under the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 to defend Waterford from possible invasion by the Spanish Armada.
In this clip, Company Sergeant Joe Mallon recalls training for the army in 1960. He discusses about his experiences of training and recalls his memories of his early days in the army, including training, uniforms, routine etc.