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name
STEPHENSON, John H Jr - Date of
birth
31 December 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Hartford County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31166913 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
L Company,
3rd Battalion,
242nd Infantry Regiment,
42nd Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Kaltenhouse, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 11 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John H. Stephenson (father)
Diana (Patenaude) Stephenson (mother)
Rose B. Stephenson (sister)
Russell Stephenson (brother)
William Stephenson (brother)
More information
Pfc John H. Stephenson Jr. attended high school for four years and was employed at Stanley P Rockwell and Company.He enlisted in Hartford, Connecticut on 3 August 1942.
He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously. The citation stated:
"On 25 January 1945, near Kaltenhouse, France, while attempting to reach a house across an open field which was subjected to heavy enemy fire, Pvt Stephenson was shot in the shoulder by sniper fire. Falling near one of the other members of his platoon who had been wounded in the thigh and seeing that the other man could not move his leg, Pvt Stephenson called for help to move the man out of danger. When the platoon sergeant was killed in responding to his call, Pvt Stephenson, in spite of his wounds and the intense enemy fire, attempted to move the other man to safety without assistance. While so doing, he was shot again and killed."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.findagrave.com, www.newspapers.com – Hartford Courant 27 March 1945, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy