Memorial

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Pvt Serge L. Capderoque attended high school for two years.

He joined the National Guard in New York City, New York on 16 September 1940.

He was killed by a gun shot wound in the head.

Pvt Capderoque was killed during a five man daylight patrol. In December 1950 the former leader of the patrol, Sgt Russell R. O'Neil, in company with an investigator of the Graves Registration Service, returned to the exact area in which his patrol was engaged by the enemy. From a former German shell hole, an almost complete skeletal remains shod in paratrooper jump boots was recovered. A helmet, identified as belonging tot Sgt Don Adrianson, a wounded member of the patrol, was found with the remains. A letter received from Mr. Adrianson revealed that he was in the same foxhole as Pvt Capderoque when the latter was killed.

The remains could be identified through dental records, color of hair and estimated height, age, weight and evidence of healed fractures which he had suffrered before joining the army and who were mentioned in medical records.

His remains were being held in above ground storage at Ardennes since 17 October 1950 until his mother had taken a final decision where he son should be buried.

His mother requested her son would be buried at the American Military Cemetery of St. Mère Eglise as many of his friends were buried there. Because this Cemetery was only a temporary burial site, it was decided Pvt Capderoque would be buried permanently at Ardennes.

He was given his final resting place on 7 February 1951.

Pvt Capderoque was awarded the Silver Star Medal postumously for actions on the day of his death. The citation cited: Near Beek, Holland, Pvt Capderoque, on his own free will, together with four other men, went on a daylight patrol into a heavily fortified enemy position and by aggressive action gained specific information of the enemy disposition and strenght. Their primary objective was an enemy dug in position and new log roadblock and their secondary obective was to take prisoners. An investigation of the roadblock disclosed no enemy so, on their own volition, they continued deep into enemy territory to seek additional information and prisoners. Though they were confronted by natural obstacles and well entrenched positions they pushed aggressively forward. Individually and by pairs they fought pill boxes and machine gun positions in an effort to drive out and capture some enemy. Several times they engaged the enemy groups at close quarters and with hand grenades. Every individual in the patrol displayed individual and collective heroism of the highest order, and despite the fact that they were alone in enemy territory against overwhelming odds they made every effort to accomplish their voluntary task. Finally they were forced to withdraw whitout prisoners. As a result of their action information regarding exact enemy disposition and strength, directly needed for the defensive security of the area, was gained. Action of a later patrol in the same area disclosed that they had also destroyed at least one enemy machine gun position.