Stanley E. Palaha
NAME: Stanley E. Palaha
ASN: 13097138
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bethlehem, PA
DATE OF BIRTH: 20 Dec 1921
DATES OF SERVICE: 08 Jul 1942 - 10 Nov 1943
UNIT ASSIGNED: 2nd Bn 509th PIR
CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal, Parachutist Badge, EAME Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Note: According to the family his original last name was Pielacha he apparently changed his last name prior to enlisting
08 Jul 1942 - Enlisted at Philadelphia, PA - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 13097138 | 13097138 |
| NAME | PALAHA#STANLEY#E######## | PALAHA#STANLEY#E######## |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | #2 | Undefined Code |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 107 | Undefined Code |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 3295 | PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 08 | 08 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 07 | 07 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 42 | 42 |
| 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 | 5 | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 32 | PENNSYLVANIA |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 21 | 21 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 3 | 3 years of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 736 | Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 6 | Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10 |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0125 | 0125 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 1.125 | 1.125 |
14-15 Sep 1943 - Pfc. Stanley E. Palaha 13097138 Combat Team Group 80.4 participated in the amphibious invasion of the Island of Procida, Italy
23 Sep 1943 - Father dies in gas explosion along with 13 others in Moffet and Schrader Mine in Primrose
09 Nov 1943 - While occupying a position on Mount Croce, the enemy began shelling their position during the night resulting in several paratroopers being struck. Pfc. Stanley Palaha was struck by a heavy piece of shrapnel and paralyzed from the waist down. Doc Alden gave him morphine and bandaged him the best he could in the pitch black night. It would be impossible to evacuate him during the night due the four miles of steep rugged terrain and no trails. Evauation would have to wait until morning. Unfortunately, Pfc. Palaha died at daybreak in Alfred Pauls arms with his other buddies close by. Pvt. Americo (George) Colaizzi acquired one of the dogtags of his best friend to remember him.
10 Nov 1943 - Pfc. Stanley E. Palaha 13097138 2nd Bn 509th PIR Pottsville, PA Plot J Row 12, Grave 48, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy Purple Heart Medal page 390 book Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart
28 Feb 1944 - Pfc. Stanley E. Palaha 13097138 GO 31 Commendation for action 9 Sep - 19 Oct 43
Mt Croce account dscribed in the book Captain Cool - Paratrooper Legend on page 6 - 7
George Colaizzi passed the dogtag of Stanley Palaha on to his son Al. Al's friend Jim Leone contacted the 509th PIA who found a relative of Palaha and put them in contact to arrange for the dogtag to be returned to the family.
Stanley Palaha and friend possibly taken while in the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to US entry into WWII
War Department Next of Kin Notification Letter sent to the parents of Stanley Palaha. Note that it lists the date killed in action as 15 November 1943.
Local newspaper obituary
