Joseph Henry Corbett was born on October 24, 1891, in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Corbett was a merchant in Macclesfield, North Carolina, when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was subsequently inducted into the service in March 1918 and served with Truck Company #5. He saw overseas service from May 1918 to May 1919 and was honorably discharged in June 1919. Corbett died in Tarboro (Edgecombe County) on August 24, 1969.