Pvt James P. STAFFORD, Jr.

1917 - 1944  (27 years)

• Name	James P. STAFFORD
  Prefix	Pvt
  Suffix	Jr.
  Born	1 Jan 1917	Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana
  Gender	Male
  _UID	D046829BD888784A8591EE61A8EBB10301B5
  Died	24 Apr 1944	Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea
  Buried	Manila American Cemetery, Phillipines
  Person ID	I71066	Branch 003 William Stafford I 1606 ENG
  Last Modified	31 Mar 2011

  
  

  Father	James STAFFORD,   b. 25 Apr 1857, Morgan Co., Indiana ,   d. 28 Jan 1928, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana  (Age 70 years)
  Mother	Catherine LORING,   b. 27 Sep 1882, Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan ,   d. 25 Jun 1971, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana  (Age 88 years)
  Married	20 May 1914	Marion Co., Indiana
  Census	1920	Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana
  Notes	Married: Bride listed as Katherine Winkler. Census: 10 Jan 1920. Listed as James Stafford, a street car motorman, with wife Katherine and children Arlie O. and James Jr.
  Family ID	F24090	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Alberta Rae GRASS,   b. 19 Feb 1913, Worthington, Greene Co., Indiana ,   d. 18 Feb 2011, Wheaton, DuPage Co., Illinois  (Age 97 years)
  Married	17 Jan 1943	Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana
  Last Modified	15 Sep 2021
  Family ID	F36013	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Private Stafford, United States Army, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, served in action at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. He emerges as one of Indiana's tallest heroes as he refused to fall. The Hoosier infantryman staggered as he came out of the swamp into tall grass. For three days his unit had been driving through the jungle heat, in clinging mud, chest-high swamp water and grass over six feet high.. Twenty-four miles lay behind in three days of horrifying conditions. Almost in sight was the Cyclops airdrome, the objective and then hopefully some rest. In a low jungle-fighting crouch Stafford pressed on. Three times he dropped but each time he struggled to his feet. His commanding sergeant told him to fall out but he shook his head no. Twice more he slumped to the ground but slowly got up. At the crest of a knoll the company paused and Stafford stretched out. Wild shouts and gunfire roused them as Japs were charging up the slope. After a while the gunfire died out momentarily but there was no rest. Then a second Jap attack came. Thirty more this time with bayonets fixed. Fire and reload! Fire and reload. The Japs dance before Stafford's eyes. At last the enemy was wiped out. Medics moved along the firing line attending to the wounded. They found Stafford unwounded but in a coma and in two hours he was dead from heat exhaustion or stroke. He truly was a Hoosier hero to be remembered. His home was in Indianapolis, Indiana and he is buried with honors in the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. He earned his Purple Heart and most of all the Silver Star. Died: Killed in action.