- SURNAME
Mason
- FORENAME
Stephen C.
- UNIT
505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (RHQ)
- RANK
Private
- NUMBER
12165894
- DATE OF DEATH
3rd November 1944
- AGE
21
- GRAVESITE
Netherlands American Cemetery,Margraten,Netherlands Tablets of the Missing
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Hudson County,New Jersey
entered service 14.11.1942 Newark,New Jersey
awards Silver Star,Bronze Star
KIA Beek-Ooijpolder,Holland
declared dead 4.11.1945
DATE OF DEATH:
03-Nov-1944AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/mason-stephen-c.35334/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Stephen C. Mason (ASN: 12165894), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 3 November 1944, near ****, Holland. Private Mason, on his own free will, together with four other men, went on a daylight patrol into a heavily-fortified enemy position and by aggressive action gained specific information of the enemy disposition and strength. Their primary objective was an enemy dug in position and new log roadblock, and their secondary objective was to take prisoners. An investigation of the road block disclosed no enemy so on their own volition, they continued deep into enemy territory to seek additional information and prisoners. Through they were confronted by natural obstacles and well entrenched positions they pushed aggressively forward. Individually and by pairs they fought pill boxes and machine gun positions in an effort to drive out and capture some enemy. Several times they engaged the enemy in groups at close quarters with hand grenades. Every individual in the patrol displayed individual and collective heroism of the highest order, and despite the fact that they were alone in enemy territory against overwhelming odds they made every effort to accomplish their voluntary task. Finally they were forced to withdraw without prisoners. As a result of their action, information regarding exact enemy disposition and strength, direly needed for the defensive security of the area, was gained. Action of a larger patrol in the same area disclosed that they had also destroyed at least one enemy machine gun position. The conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity that characterized Private Mason's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Airborne Forces of the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/91144
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