PVT Stanley W. Del Santo
Private (PVT) Stanley William Del Santo of Charlie Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Canboro, Ontario, Canada, to Richard Allen and Gladys (Hauck) Follick on March 27, 1922. This date is derived from his 1942 Draft Card. Stanley stated a different birth date, March 22, 1922, on an immigration form of June 7, 1941.
Del Santo had two older brothers, Ellsworth and Jack, both of which served during WWII. He also had a little sister, Ruth, who sadly died on September 24, 1921, when she had just recently turned one.
Stanley’s parents divorced by a lawsuit on May 23, 1927. He was adopted by Thomas and Helen DelSanto of Detroit. In the 1930 Census, Stanley lived with them, mentioning he was a friend. According to the 1940 Census, he was a cousin of Thomas and Helen.
When Stanley registered for the draft in Detroit on June 30, 1942, he worked at the Aircraft Department of Ticher Body Co. His enlistment file is not available in the NARA archives, but he did enlist and was assigned to Charlie Company, 501st PIR.
PVT Stanley Del Santo’s jumpmaster on D-Day was 1LT Edward T. Jansen. Others in this stick were SGT Thomas M. Rice and radio operator PFC Frank J. Carpenter. In a 1966 letter to fellow World War II paratrooper and author George Koskimaki, Frank Carpenter mentioned Stanley Del Santo several times. PFC Carpenter may have been one of the last persons to have seen PVT DelSanto during the final hours of his life.
“I thought I was coming down in one of the canals but hit the bank with my feet in about two feet of water. I landed in Drop Zone D. I was lucky. There was a chute in the water, in the middle of the canal about 50 feet from me. Never knew who [he was]. Don't think he was in our stick. […] Looked for someone else. Del Santo was the only one [I saw]. [He] came up to me and we tried to figure out where we were. [We] saw a group of about 15 to 20 and joined them. Came by Major [Richard J.] Allen and a larger group about 20 minutes later.”
Private Del Santo would be killed in action under unknown circumstances later that day. He died at the age of 22.
Morning Report. courtesy of Felipe Jirkal
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
The body of PVT Stanley DelSanto returned home around March 31, 1948. It would turn out to be a tragic week for his adoptive mother, Helen, as her husband Stanley died of a heart attack on April 9, 1948.
Stanley was buried together with his adoptive father at Acacia Park Cemetery, Beverly Hills, Oakland County, Michigan. May both men rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Stanley.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Sources
Marriage Certificate of Richard Allen Follick and Gladys Hauck (February 17, 1917) and divorce certificate (May 31, 1927)
Death Certificate Ruth Follick
Stanley W. DelSanto: Immigration Manifest (March 21, 1940), Declaration of Intention (June 7, 1941), Draft Card (June 30,1942)
Letter to George Koskimaki by Frank J. Carpenter (1966; Courtesy Felipe Jirkal)
Detroit Free Press, Wednesday, March 31, 1948