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First Name: Stanley

Last Name: Bender

Birthplace: Carlisle, WV, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Chicago, IL




Date of Birth: 31 October 1909

Date of Death: 22 June 1994

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Years Served:
Stanley Bender

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Stanley Bender
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
World War II

Staff Sergeant Stanley Bender (31 October 1909 - 22 June 1994) was a U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II.

Stanley Bender was born on 31 October 1909 in Carlisle, WV. He joined the Army at Chicago, IL. On 17 August 1944, Bender was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. That day, near La Lande, France, he single-handedly silenced two German machine gun emplacements and led his squad in the destruction of the remainder of a German strong point. For these actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near La Lande, France, 17 August 1944.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 17 August 1944, near La Lande, France, he climbed on top of a knocked-out tank, in the face of withering machinegun fire which had halted the advance of his company, in an effort to locate the source of this fire. Although bullets ricocheted off the turret at his feet, he nevertheless remained standing upright in full view of the enemy for over 2 minutes. Locating the enemy machineguns on a knoll 200 yards away, he ordered 2 squads to cover him and led his men down an irrigation ditch, running a gauntlet of intense machinegun fire, which completely blanketed 50 yards of his advance and wounded 4 of his men. While the Germans hurled hand grenades at the ditch, he stood his ground until his squad caught up with him, then advanced alone, in a wide flanking approach, to the rear of the knoll. He walked deliberately a distance of 40 yards, without cover, in full view of the Germans and under a hail of both enemy and friendly fire, to the first machinegun and knocked it out with a single short burst. Then he made his way through the strong point, despite bursting hand grenades, toward the second machinegun, 25 yards distant, whose 2-man crew swung the machinegun around and fired two bursts at him, but he walked calmly through the fire and, reaching the edge of the emplacement, dispatched the crew. Signaling his men to rush the rifle pits, he then walked 35 yards further to kill an enemy rifleman and returned to lead his squad in the destruction of the 8 remaining Germans in the strong point. His audacity so inspired the remainder of the assault company that the men charged out of their positions, shouting and yelling, to overpower the enemy roadblock and sweep into town, knocking out 2 antitank guns, killing 37 Germans and capturing 26 others. He had sparked and led the assault company in an attack which overwhelmed the enemy, destroying a roadblock, taking a town, seizing intact 3 bridges over the Maravenne River, and capturing commanding terrain which dominated the area.

Honors

On 9 November 1954, a portion of the West Virginia Turnpike was dedicated to Bender. It was renamed "Bender Bridge" and was topped with a plaque telling of his heroism during the War.

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Stanley Bender died on 22 June 1994 at age 84. He is buried at High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill, WV, in Section A, Lot 360.



Honoree ID: 1285   Created by: MHOH

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