DOB/DOD: August 12, 1916 (New London, CT) – March 11, 1945; 28 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Pequot Road, Montville
ENLISTMENT: November 27, 1940, in New London, Connecticut
SERVICE NUMBER: 302212
UNIT: Company K, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: Many, however, in the 25th Marines, he was a 0651 Platoon Sergeant and a 0737 Fire Team Leader
FAMILY: Born to Jacob (1878-1950) and Grafenio “Graffina” Shumenha Stankowich (1882-1958), both born in Poland. Second oldest of seven children. Siblings are Michael (1910-1968), Pauline Olga Stankowich Jelly (1914-2007), Mary Stankowich Degutis (1919-2008), Alexandra “Alice” Stankowich Smith (1920-1983), John (1924-1944 [KIA in WWII]), Helen Stankowich Hart (1927-2011).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, in late 1940. He was assigned to Quantico, Virginia, as a carpenter from the Spring of 1941 to the Summer of 1942, when he was transferred to the 15th Provisional Marine Company at Quantico, Virginia, through the Summer of 1943 as a Police Sergeant. His final assignment to the 4th Marine Division, 25th Marines, 3rd Battalion, took place in the fall of 1943. 2 GySgt Stankowich and 2d Lt Herbert Wildman of Stamford were in the same company. They died 20 days apart. Wounded on February 25, 1945, and went back into the action.
From The Evening Day (New London, CT) November 19, 1948
BODIES OF MONTVILLE BROTHERS KILLED IN WAR RETURN FOR BURIAL
The bodies of Gunnery Sergeant Walter Stankowich, Marines, and Private John Stankowich, Army, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Stankowich of Montville, arrived at Union station today at 12:35 p.m. Meeting the train were relatives, friends, a delegation from the Robert O. Fletcher Post, American Legion, of Norwich, and the staff of Labenski Funeral Home, also of Norwich. A double funeral will take place tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, and interment will be in the family plot in St. Nicholas Cemetery, both at Norwich. The Norwich Legion Post is in charge of burial arrangements.
Sergeant Stankowich was born in this city on August 12, 1916, and moved to Montville at the age of five. He attended Palmer Memorial School in that town and was employed by Savin Construction Company before entering the service on November 27, 1940. He received his basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, Green River, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California. Serving with the fourth division, the Marine Sergeant was overseas for 14 months before being killed on Iwo Jima on March 11, 1945. He took part in five invasions and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously, the Purple Heart Medal with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation with a star in lieu of a second award, and the Asiatic-Pacific area campaign medal with five stars. The Bronze Star Medal was awarded to the sergeant’s parents by Captain C.E. McParlin Jr., former commanding officer of the Marine Detachment at the Submarine Base, for “heroic achievement while serving with Company K, Third Battalion, 25th Marines, Fourth Marine Division on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.” His unit received the Presidential citation for the invasion of Saipan. He had expected to come home on furlough after the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Private Stankowich, who was killed in action in Italy on May 12, 1944, four days before his 21st birthday, was born in Montville on May 16, 1923. He was a graduate of Palmer Memorial School there and completed three years at Chapman Technical High School here. Before entering the service on February 12, 1943, he was employed by Connecticut Light and Power Company at its plant in Montville. After six months of training at Camp Howze, Texas, he was sent overseas to Africa for further training, then was sent to Italy, where he met his death in a major drive. Besides their parents, the two brothers leave four sisters, Mrs. Mary Degutis of Waterford, Mrs. Alice Smith of Groton, Mrs. Pauline Jelty, and Miss Helen Stankowich of Montville; one brother, Michael Stankowich, also of Montville, and three nieces and one nephew.
Initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Grave 1660, Row 34, Plot 1. Repatriated and buried on November 20, 1948, in St. Nicholas Russian Cemetery, 64 Orchard Lane, Norwich, Connecticut (behind Mahan School); plot number unknown. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
He was buried next to his brother, who died 10 months before him, in Italy.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – USMC Muster Rolls: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/