PVT Stanley Suwarsky
Private (PVT) Stanley Suwarsky of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Coloma Township, Berrien County, Michigan, to John and Josephine (Peech) Suwarsky on October 26, 1915. He had one brother, Joseph Suwarsky, and two sisters, Rosalie and Pauline Suwarsky.
After his father passed away in 1918, his mother remarried Stanley Suwarske in 1919. She had four other children with Stanley, who would become PVT Stanley Suwarsky’s half-siblings: Walter and Leo Suwarske, and Helen and Stella Suwarske.
Stanley was a graduate of Coloma High School in 1934. He was an outstanding athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball, all while representing the school with distinction. Stanley was also an all-around good student who showed exceptional qualities of leadership and character, which led to him being bestowed the highest award of the Coloma school, the “Green and Gold.” After his graduation, he had been employed at the bulb farm owned by John Elzinga near Coloma.
Stanley Suwarsky enlisted in the United States Army in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on May 5, 1942. He was assigned to HQ Co, 3rd Bn, 501st PIR, and completed his basic paratrooper training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, followed by jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He then moved with the regiment to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. In September 1943, the 501st went to Tennessee, where the paratroopers participated in the Second Army Maneuvers, returning to Mackall in the first week of November.
In January 1944, PVT Suwarsky sailed across the Atlantic. The 3rd Battalion settled in Lambourne, Berkshire, England, and training commenced to prepare for the invasion of France. On June 6th, PVT Suwarsky would jump into Normandy with the Pathfinder Team C shortly after midnight. He was killed while on the way down and is believed to be the first paratrooper killed in action on D-Day.
Another Screaming Eagle from the 101st Airborne Division had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
PVT Stanley Suwarsky died at age 28.
He was initially buried at the temporary facility at Blosville, Carentan, in Block I, Row 8, Grave 146. He was later reburied at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Department du Calvados, Basse-Normandy, France, and rests eternally in Plot F, Row 15, Grave 16. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with Oakleaf Cluster (General Order #20, #21, 1944) and posthumously a Purple Heart Medal (#21, 1944).
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Stanley.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Sources used for this article on the 101st Airborne Division website are known to the author and available upon request.