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Charles Donald STAPLETON
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Source : jphjr47 & Arnaud Gaté (Ellen Marchese) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF SERVICE | O-1291349 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| AGE | 24 yo | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 7 October 1919 Brooklyn, Kings County, NEW YORK | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENLISTMENT STATE | NEW YORK | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FAMILY |
Parents : Percival T. "Percy" & Helen Claire Gannon STAPLETON Siblings : Helen Claire & Robert J. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RANK |
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| FONCTION | Infantry Man | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT | Actor |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 10 March 1941 Brooklyn NEW YORK | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMPANY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BATTALION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| REGIMENT | 117th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DIVISION | 30th Infantry Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 12 July 1944 |
Source : R. Eddins | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Saint-Lô, Departement de la Manche | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEMETERY TEMPORARY |
CEMETERY TEMPORARY of La Cambe N°3539
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| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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Distinguished Service Cross
United States Army Headquarters, FIRST U.S. Army, General Orders No. 65 (November 1, 1945), Amended by G.O. No. 65 (1945)
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Charles Donald Stapleton (ASN: 0-1291349), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with an Infantry Company of the 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces in France, on 9 and 12 July 1944. On 9 July 1944, in the face of a surprise German counterattack, without regard for his own life, Captain Stapleton went forward on four different occasions to rescue a wounded comrade. His courageous leadership and exemplary actions inspired his troops and the counterattack was repulsed. On 12 July, Captain Stapleton’s battalion was pinned down by heavy artillery and machine gun fire from well emplaced German tanks to the front and flanks. Resolved to pus the attack despite the heavy fire, Captain Stapleton moved forward to the leading elements. With a handful of men, he forged ahead boldly and aggressively until a full-scale assault was under way. Mortally wounded in the assault, Captain Stapleton continued to urge his men forward until the objective was captured. His outstanding leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 30th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 65 (1945) ********** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : Fold3 |
Source : Fold3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Activated/Activé |
Normandy/Normandie |
| 16 Sep 1940 | Days of Combat/Jour de Combat 282 |
| Casualties/Victimes 18 446 | |
Entered Combat/Entré au combat |
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| 11 Jun 44 Normandy | |
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Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. Henry D. Russell (Sep 40 - Apr 42) |
Campaigns/CampagnesNormandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) |
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP |
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DIVISION CHRONICLEThe 30th Infantry Division arrived in England, 22 February 1944, and trained until June. It landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy, 15 June 1944, secured the Vire-et-Taute Canal, crossed the Vire River, 7 July, and, beginning on 25 July spearheaded the St. Lo break-through. The day after the Division relieved the 1st Infantry Division near Mortain on 6 August, the German drive to Avranches began. Fighting in place with all available personnel, the 30th frustrated enemy plans and broke the enemy spearhead in a week of violent struggle, 7 to 12 August. The Division drove east through Belgium, crossing the Meuse River at Vise and Liege, 10 September. Elements entered Holland on the 12th, and Maastricht fell the next day. Taking up positions along the Wurm River, the 30th launched its attack on the Siegfried Line, 2 October 1944, and succeeded in contacting the 1st Division, 16 October, and encircling Aachen. After a rest period, the Division eliminated an enemy salient northeast of Aachen, 16 November, pushed to the Inde River at Altdorf, 28 November, then moved to rest areas. On 17 December the Division rushed south to the Malmedy-Stavelot area to help block the powerful enemy drive in the Battle of the Ardennes. It launched a counteroffensive on 13 January 1945 and reached a point 2 miles south of St. Vith, 26 January, before leaving the Battle of the Bulge and moving to an assembly area near Lierneux, 27 January, and to another near Aachen to prepare for the Roer offensive. The Roer River was crossed, 23 February 1945, near Julich. The 30th moved back for training and rehabilitation, 6 March, and on 24 March made its assault crossing of the Rhine. It pursued the enemy across Germany, mopping up enemy pockets of resistance, took Hamelin, 7 April, Braunschweig on the 12th, and helped reduce Magdeburg on the 17th. The Russians were contacted at Grunewald on the Elbe River. After a short occupation period, the 30th began moving for home, arriving 19 August 1945. |
CHRONIQUE DE DIVISIONLa 30th Infantry Division arrive en Angleterre le 22 février 1944 et s'entraîne jusqu'en juin. Il débarqua à Omaha Beach, en Normandie, le 15 juin 1944, sécurisa le canal de Vire-et-Taute, traversa la Vire, le 7 juillet, et, à partir du 25 juillet, fut le fer de lance de la percée de Saint-Lo. Le lendemain de la relève de la 1re division d'infanterie près de Mortain, le 6 août, la division allemande a commencé à Avranches. Combattant avec tout le personnel disponible, le 30ème ennemi frustré projette et brise le fer de lance ennemi dans une semaine de lutte violente, du 7 au 12 août. La Division a traversé la Belgique en traversant la Meuse à Vise et Liège, le 10 septembre. Les éléments sont entrés en Hollande le 12 et Maastricht est tombé le lendemain. Prenant position le long de la rivière Wurm, le 30 a lancé son attaque sur la ligne Siegfried, le 2 octobre 1944, et a réussi à contacter la 1re Division, le 16 octobre, et à encercler Aix-la-Chapelle. Après une période de repos, la Division a éliminé un saillant ennemi au nord-est d'Aix-la-Chapelle, le 16 novembre, a été poussée sur l'Inde à Altdorf, le 28 novembre, puis s'est déplacée vers des aires de repos. Le 17 décembre, la Division s'est précipitée vers le sud, dans la région de Malmedy-Stavelot, pour bloquer la puissante campagne ennemie de la bataille des Ardennes. Il lança une contre-offensive le 13 janvier 1945 et atteignit un point situé à 2 milles au sud de Saint-Vith, le 26 janvier, avant de quitter la bataille des Ardennes et de se rendre dans une zone de rassemblement près de Lierneux le 27 janvier. l'offensive Roer. La rivière Roer fut traversée, le 23 février 1945, près de Julich. Le 30 mars est revenu à l'entraînement et à la réhabilitation, le 6 mars, et le 24 mars, il a effectué son assaut en traversant le Rhin. Il a poursuivi l'ennemi à travers l'Allemagne, nettoyé les poches de résistance ennemies, pris Hamelin, le 7 avril, Braunschweig le 12, et aidé à réduire Magdeburg le 17. Les Russes ont été contactés à Grunewald sur l'Elbe. Après une courte période d'occupation, le 30 a commencé à déménager pour la maison, arrivant le 19 août 1945. |
| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Armydivs.squarespace.com |
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| SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO | Monty McDaniel - Arnaud Gaté - Weremember.abmc.gov - Findagrave.com - Militaryhallofhonor.com - Nara - Valor.militarytimes.com |
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| EDITORS | Victor, Jean-Philippe, Eric, Henri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |