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| Pfc. Harold Stephens fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 21st Armored Infantry Battalion. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82786595/harold-thomas-stephens https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_24.HTM |
Harold T. Stephens never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 25, 1918 in Pennsylvania. His parents James and Winifred were both born in Wales. His mother died in 1939. His father worked as a fire boss in a coal mine and later as a coal mine foreman. Harold had one older brother, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers. His older brother served in the navy during the war. Another brother served in the army. He completed a grammar school level education and worked as a waiter.
He was drafted into the army on November 20,1942. He became a private first class in Company A, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division (nicknamed "Thunderbolt"). The 11th AD arrived in France on December 16, 1944, the day the Germans launched the attack that would become known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Pfc. Stephens and the rest of the 11th AD were rushed 500 miles east to help repeal the Germans. The 11th ID was tasked with keeping the road open to supply the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne beginning on December 29, 1944. Pfc. Stephens was wounded in action on January 2 and died on January 8, 1945.
His grave is at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Peckville, Pennsylvania.
Last year on this date I profiled Stanley Bennett, 24th Infantry Division. You can read about Stanley here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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