Stanley's greatest passion was boxing. He began boxing in the mid-1930s, working out at St. Pat's and Heniff's gyms. His amateur bouts at the Madison Athletic Club in Chicago were reported on in the Chicago newspapers. In 1940 & 1941 Stanley made it all the way to the semifinals in the Golden Gloves. Stan fought his last amateur fight in 1941, shortly before deciding to join the army.
On March 5, 1941, the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Division was called into federal service. Stanley enlisted on March 5th, 1941, and was assigned to the 124th Field Artillery Battalion. His orders directed him to Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee for basic and advanced training. Stanley served as an anti-tank gunner in Battery K.
In the summer of 1943, Stanley wrote to his mother telling her that he was considering joining the paratroops, then she received another letter from Stanley announcing that he was already working on earning his jump wings at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was official: Stanley was a proud member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne.
D-DAY
Stanley's time in England came to an end on the evening of June 5th, 1944, when he boarded his C-47 for the night flight over the English Channel. Stanley's plane number is unknown and therefore it is difficult to know the details of his D-Day flight. He was later reported as helping to pull fellow paratroopers to safety from the swamp of a flooded field in Normandy, so it can be gathered that his jump was successful and he landed and freed himself from his harness unharmed.
It is told this way on Mark Bando's website Triggertime: "On D-Day, shortly after returning from the German-held south bank of the Douve River near Brévands, France, Fred had taken-up firing position just to the left of Stan Stockins on the north berm. Some of the troopers present were briskly exchanging shots with the Germans across the river. Suddenly, a German bullet struck Stockins a fatal wound to the head.
On March 5, 1941, the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Division was called into federal service. Stanley enlisted on March 5th, 1941, and was assigned to the 124th Field Artillery Battalion. His orders directed him to Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee for basic and advanced training. Stanley served as an anti-tank gunner in Battery K.
In the summer of 1943, Stanley wrote to his mother telling her that he was considering joining the paratroops, then she received another letter from Stanley announcing that he was already working on earning his jump wings at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was official: Stanley was a proud member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne.
D-DAY
Stanley's time in England came to an end on the evening of June 5th, 1944, when he boarded his C-47 for the night flight over the English Channel. Stanley's plane number is unknown and therefore it is difficult to know the details of his D-Day flight. He was later reported as helping to pull fellow paratroopers to safety from the swamp of a flooded field in Normandy, so it can be gathered that his jump was successful and he landed and freed himself from his harness unharmed.
It is told this way on Mark Bando's website Triggertime: "On D-Day, shortly after returning from the German-held south bank of the Douve River near Brévands, France, Fred had taken-up firing position just to the left of Stan Stockins on the north berm. Some of the troopers present were briskly exchanging shots with the Germans across the river. Suddenly, a German bullet struck Stockins a fatal wound to the head.
Stanley's greatest passion was boxing. He began boxing in the mid-1930s, working out at St. Pat's and Heniff's gyms. His amateur bouts at the Madison Athletic Club in Chicago were reported on in the Chicago newspapers. In 1940 & 1941 Stanley made it all the way to the semifinals in the Golden Gloves. Stan fought his last amateur fight in 1941, shortly before deciding to join the army.
On March 5, 1941, the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Division was called into federal service. Stanley enlisted on March 5th, 1941, and was assigned to the 124th Field Artillery Battalion. His orders directed him to Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee for basic and advanced training. Stanley served as an anti-tank gunner in Battery K.
In the summer of 1943, Stanley wrote to his mother telling her that he was considering joining the paratroops, then she received another letter from Stanley announcing that he was already working on earning his jump wings at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was official: Stanley was a proud member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne.
D-DAY
Stanley's time in England came to an end on the evening of June 5th, 1944, when he boarded his C-47 for the night flight over the English Channel. Stanley's plane number is unknown and therefore it is difficult to know the details of his D-Day flight. He was later reported as helping to pull fellow paratroopers to safety from the swamp of a flooded field in Normandy, so it can be gathered that his jump was successful and he landed and freed himself from his harness unharmed.
It is told this way on Mark Bando's website Triggertime: "On D-Day, shortly after returning from the German-held south bank of the Douve River near Brévands, France, Fred had taken-up firing position just to the left of Stan Stockins on the north berm. Some of the troopers present were briskly exchanging shots with the Germans across the river. Suddenly, a German bullet struck Stockins a fatal wound to the head.
On March 5, 1941, the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Division was called into federal service. Stanley enlisted on March 5th, 1941, and was assigned to the 124th Field Artillery Battalion. His orders directed him to Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee for basic and advanced training. Stanley served as an anti-tank gunner in Battery K.
In the summer of 1943, Stanley wrote to his mother telling her that he was considering joining the paratroops, then she received another letter from Stanley announcing that he was already working on earning his jump wings at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was official: Stanley was a proud member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne.
D-DAY
Stanley's time in England came to an end on the evening of June 5th, 1944, when he boarded his C-47 for the night flight over the English Channel. Stanley's plane number is unknown and therefore it is difficult to know the details of his D-Day flight. He was later reported as helping to pull fellow paratroopers to safety from the swamp of a flooded field in Normandy, so it can be gathered that his jump was successful and he landed and freed himself from his harness unharmed.
It is told this way on Mark Bando's website Triggertime: "On D-Day, shortly after returning from the German-held south bank of the Douve River near Brévands, France, Fred had taken-up firing position just to the left of Stan Stockins on the north berm. Some of the troopers present were briskly exchanging shots with the Germans across the river. Suddenly, a German bullet struck Stockins a fatal wound to the head.
Inscription
TEC 4 506 PRCHT INF 101 ABN DIV ILLINOIS
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Illinois.
Family Members
Other Records
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