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name
BLISS, Stephen Andrew - Date of
birth
2 March 1915 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Fortuna, Divide County, North Dakota -
Hometown
Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39175555 -
Rank
Private -
Function
Rifleman -
Unit
HQ & HQ Company,
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
17th Airborne Division
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 11 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry C. Bliss (father)
Margaret I. (Wood) Bliss (mother)
Grace M. Bliss (sister)
Harold N. Bliss (brother)
Sarah K.I. Bliss (sister)
Henry W. Bliss (brother)
Walter L. Bliss (brother)
Edna E.B. Bliss (sister)
Donald A. Bliss (brother)
Stewart M. Bliss (brother)
Harvey L. Bliss (brother)
More information
Pvt Stephen A. Bliss was a truck driver for a Retail Furniture Exchange in Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho.He enlisted in Spokane, Washington on 20 April 1942 and started as a cook, earning the rank of sergeant. He had tried to enlist sooner but was rejected because he had false teeth.
When he volunteerd for the paratroopers, his rank of sergeant was forfeited.
His regimental commanding officer wrote the following to his family "While attempting to reach the regimental assembly point near Wesel, Germany, an enemy machine gun opened fire. Crossing the open ground, Pvt. Bliss was caught in the fire and dropped to the ground mortally wounded. Medical aid was not necessary as he died instantly."
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.ww2-airborne.us, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1925/1940 Census / Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Enlistment Records / Family Tree, Book: The Last Drop, Operation Varsity March 24-25, 1945 by Stephen L. Wright.
Photo source: Tom Verheijden, Ralph Mavity, Rosanne Bliss