Stephen J. Bires

NAME: Stephen Joseph Bires

ASN: 32094744 / 01303837 / O-1303837

PLACE OF BIRTH: Manhattan, New York

DATE OF BIRTH: August 1, 1917

DATES OF SERVICE: 12 Jun 1941 to 12 Dec 1945

UNIT ASSIGNED: 509th PIB

CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with one combat jump star,

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

12 Jun 1941 - Enlisted at Governors Island, NY - NARA Enlistment Record

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	32094744	32094744
NAME	BIRES#STEPHEN#J#########	BIRES#STEPHEN#J#########
RESIDENCE: STATE	23	NEW YORK
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	061	NEW YORK
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	2343	GOVERNORS ISLAND NEW YORK
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	12	12
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	06	06
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	41	41
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	PVT#	Private
GRADE: CODE	8	Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	BI#	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE	00	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	0	Undefined Code
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	0	Civil Life
NATIVITY	23	NEW YORK
YEAR OF BIRTH	17	17
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	3	3 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	170	Sales clerks
MARITAL STATUS	6	Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	7	Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0465	0465
FILM REEL NUMBER	3.187	3.187

17 Sep 1942 - Entered Officer Candidate Course, Fort Benning, Columbus, GA as a Corporal

14 Dec 1942 - Graduated Officer Candidate Course, Fort Benning, Columbus, GA and temporarily appointed 2nd Lieutenant

Likely assigned to 2nd Bn 509th PIR at Oujda, Tunisia in early 1943 while unit was training for future operations. 509th was held in reserve for Sicily but was never used. Later they were flown to Sicily to start preparing for the invasion of Italy.

"It was Algeria, N. Africa, where my Dad was, before his jump. Once, Dad was Officer of the day, where he found an Arab pilfering the barracks. He, along with some MP's, brought the thief to the Foreigh Legion Headquaters. After presenting the Foreign Legion Officer with the charges, this Officer calmly took out his pistol, and shot the Arab in the head. Then he told Dad and the MP's, there is no need to come to them in the future, with such trivial matters, take care of it themselves. Brutal."

14 Sep 1943 - Jumped in at Avellino, Italy

15 Sep 1943 - Captured vicinity Avellino, Italy

SERIAL NUMBER	O1303837	O1303837
NAME	BIRES STEPHEN J	BIRES STEPHEN J
GRADE, ALPHA	2 LT	Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide
GRADE CODE	G	Second Lieutenant or Ensign
SERVICE CODE	1	ARMY
ARM OR SERVICE	INF	Infantry
ARM OR SERVICE CODE	10	INF: INFANTRY
DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)	15	15
DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)	09	09
DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)	3	1943
RACIAL GROUP CODE	1	WHITE
STATE OF RESIDENCE	23	New York
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION	160	Parachute Infantry
PARENT UNIT NUMBER	0509	0509
PARENT UNIT TYPE	06	Group/Regiment/Commands/System
AREA	98	North African Theatre: Italy
LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)	26	26
LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)	06	06
LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)	5	1945
SOURCE OF REPORT	1	Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
STATUS	8	Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
DETAINING POWER	1	GERMANY
CAMP	04	Undefined Code
REP
POW TRANSPORT SHIPS

00 Sep 1943 - Arrived as POW, at OFLAG 64, Szubin (AKA) Schubin, Poland. Spent 21 months there.

"While in Oflag 64, his letters home requested, always, to please send vanilla and cinnamon in Red Cross packages. Interesting!"

"POW mail went back and forth, on a Swedish ship, the MS Gripsholm. My cousin remembers seeing that ship In NY Harbor several times. The ship had large Swedish flags painted on it, as well as being well lit up, to identify it as neutral. "

21 Jan 1945 - Sunday morning, he, and 1,470 other officers and enlisted men left by foot, for the 345 mile trek to Brandenburg.

"My cousin and I, both remember Dad saying, he was liberated by the Russians."

19 May 1945 - 1st Lt. Bires at APO562NY - Lilford Hall, England

20 May 1945 - 1st Lt. Bires at APO568NY - Devizes, England

04 Jun 1945 - 1st Lt. Bires arrived Fort Dix, NJ

05 Jun 1945 - 1st Lt. Bires departed Fort Dix, NJ recieved back pay for period 01 Sep 43 to 31 May 45 in the amount of $4,366.72. Took leave enroute to next duty station.

"When he finally did arrive home, late one night to 150 E. 86th St., my 2 cousins remember how very skinny he was. But, there he was, home and safe!!"

03 Aug 1945 - Arrived at AG & SF RS, Asheville, NC and leave was immediately extended to 24 Aug 1945

24 Aug 1945 - Reported for duty at AG & SF RS, Asheville, NC recieved pay for 01 Jun 1945 to 31 Jul 1945

02 Sep 1945 - Reported to Fort Benning, GA and placed on Parachute Duty

02 Oct 1945 - Departed Fort Benning, GA

03 Oct 1945 - Promoted to Captain (although he may not have known it at the time)

03 Oct 1945 - Arrived at Seperation Center, Fort Bragg, NC

06 Oct 1945 - Processed for seperation from service, Seperation Center, Fort Bragg, NC departed for home.

08 Oct 1945 - Arrived home to 150 east 86th Street, New York City, NY

12 Dec 1945 - Date of Seperation (this is after taking terminal leave, he had 65 days)

12 Dec 1945 - Recieved pay adjustment for promotion to Capt. (03 Oct 45 to 12 Dec 45)

01 Apr 1953 - Notification of termination of Reserve appointment. Honorable Discharge for USAR and AUS. Was living at 19 Satellite Lane, Levittown, Long Island, NY at the time.

1979 - Attended the 509th Parachute Infantry Association reunion in Louisville, KY

10 Oct 1980 - Attended reunion of OFLAG 64

14 May 1982 - Passed Away

Photo taken at OFLAG 64 - Szubin, Poland sometime between 1943 to 1945

Back Row (Left to Right) - Leonard W. Spence, Livingstone, Stephen Bires, Hogan

Front Row (Left to Right) - Roggen, Carlisle, Danylick, Grey

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON OFLAG 64

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