DOB/DOD: September 1, 1918 (Danbury, CT) – February 19, 1945; 26 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 27 Center Street, Danbury
ENLISTMENT: November 12, 1942, in Springfield, Massachusetts
SERVICE NUMBER: 460414
UNIT: Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 745, Rifleman; and 737, Fire Team Leader
FAMILY: Born to George Bernard Stolzenberg, who passed 6 weeks after William was born, on October 13, 1918. Mother is Frances Mahon Stolzenberg (1895-1959). 1 In the 1920 census, at 1 year and 4 months old, he is listed at 80 Liberty Street with an aunt, Ellen Mahon (1851-1934), and her daughter, Helen Mahon (1892-1972). Worked for B.J. Dolan in Bethel prior to the service. 2
CIRCUMSTANCES: Boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, from late 1942 through early 1943. Assigned to the Reserve Officers’ Class, Quantico, Virginia, as “Maintenance” in Spring through Fall 1943. In January 1944, assigned to the 5th Marine Division, Headquarters Company, and eventually the 5th Marine Division, 27th Marines, 1st Battalion in the Spring of 1944. 5 Circumstances of his death are unknown.
Photo from The Purple Heart Museum’s Roll of Honor
Memorialized in Rogers Park Memorial Field, 1 Memorial Drive, Danbury, Connecticut. Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Plot 2, Row 9, Grave 461. At his mother’s request, his remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery, 79 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, Connecticut; Section 9, Lot 110. 4Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
2 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238
3 – https://www.thepurpleheart.com/roll-of-honor/
4 – USMC Casualty Report received via FOIA request
5 – USMC Muster Rolls
6 – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1089/