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Personal info

Full name
BERGSTEDT, Sten E "The Swede"
Date of birth
12 August 1910
Age
34
Place of birth
Kronoberg, Iän, Sweden
Hometown
Worcester County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
O-291699
Rank
Captain
Function
Company Commander
Unit
A Company,
1st Battalion,
66th Armored Regiment,
2nd Armored Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 September 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Scherpenseel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
C 4 6

Immediate family

Members
Elis A Bergstedt, (father)
Signe M (Isakson) Bergstedt (mother)
Brette Bergstedt (brother)
Iren Bergstedt (sister)
Sven G Bergstedt (brother)
Ellis A. Bergstedt (son)

More information

Capt. Sten E. Bergstedt was a graduate of Norwich University in Vermont, class of 1932 where he was the captain of the polo team.

He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for an action on 14 September 1944. On that day, Capt. Bergstedt commanded an armored patrol operating in the vicinity of the city of Scherpenseel in Germany when his unit came under intense anti-tank fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety he pulled his tank into a firing position to increase the fire power of the patrol and in so doing received a direct hit in the turret which proved fatal. His courageous action resulted in several tanks being able to maneuver into a position protected from enemy fire, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of numerous soldiers.
Note: Probably the mentioned date is wrong and has to be 24 September.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, Cecil Buis, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Iron Knights - The US 66th Armored Division, Gordon Blaker