Gordon Stoen

20Sep1924 – 07Jul1944

Edison Days

Gordon graduated with the Class of June 1942. He was involved in the basketball and baseball. He lettered in both sports during his senior year.

Gordon appeared in the paper several times for his exploits on the basketball court.

Military Service

Rank: Private

Branch: United States Army

Unit: 120th Infantry Regiment – 30th Infantry Regiment

Gordon enlisted in the Army on 8Jun1943. His path to the 120th Infantry Regiment is unknown at this time.

The 120th Infantry Regiment landed on Omaha Beach on 11Jun1944, 5 days after the D-Day Invasion. Their first combat was on 15Jun1944.

The 120th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Hammond Birks, which had been holding defensive positions south of Montmartin-en-Graignes since 15Jun 1944, relaunched its offensive towards Saint-Jean-de-Daye, France on 7 July at 0430 hours. The 1st Battalion was given the mission to seize this village, while the 3rd Battalion had to reconnoiter the right flank of the regiment towards the hamlet of La Goucherie.

The sappers of Company C of the 105th Combat Engineer Battalion (30th Infantry Division) were engaged to support the mobility of the 120th IR when crossing the Vire et Taute canal. Three makeshift bridges were set up: two were destroyed by direct fire and the last one remained intact. At 1.45 pm, the infantrymen crossed the canal and secured the bridgehead in spite of the German artillery shells, allowing the sappers to reinforce the bridge during the afternoon. The American tanks of the 743rd Tank Battalion progressed as close as possible to the infantry and crossed the canal in their turn. The 2nd Battalion, designated as a reserved element, was responsible for securing the various points used for the crossing. From 6.15 p.m. onwards, the Americans progressed more rapidly and the objectives were reached before nightfall. The commune of Saint-Jean-de-Daye was liberated, the German fighters of the joint battle group under the orders of colonel Heinz (275. Infantry-Division) withdrew towards the southwest.

Gordon was killed by shrapnel from a German artillery shell in this battle.

Gordon was originally buried at La Cambe Cemetery, lsigny, France. Eventually his remains were relocated to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial near near Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.