Stephen R. Mendrey was born on January 17, 1920 to John and Julia Mendrey who lived in a rural area outside of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. His father emigrated from Czechoslovak ia in 1907. John worked as a laborer at a woolen mill.

Stephen was the third of eight children: Margaret, Josephine, Stephen, John A, Elizabeth, Caroline, Edward and Helen.  Margaret was born in Connecticut, the others in Pennsylvania.

Stephen was educated at the East Pikeland Consolidated School, then located in Kimberton.  He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, as well as the Polish American Citizen’s Club, and a social member of the George A. Amole Post 47 American Legion in Pottstown.  Stephen later worked at the Woolen Mill in Bridgeport.

Stephen entered service in the Army in February 1942.  He received training at bases in Kentucky, New York, Tennessee, Texas as well as desert training in California.

 

 

Stephen was sent to the ETO (European Theater of Operations) in England in January 1944, assigned to serve with the 10^th Infantry Battalion, 4^th Armored Division.  The 10^th Battalion was one of 3 infantry battalions assigned to the 4^th Armored Division (10^th, 51^st and 53rd).  This was the same division that Heroes Melvin Bailey, Leo Brignola, and Ford Gurrell served.

Stephens’s unit underwent extensive training in England for several months.  They went ashore on Omaha Beach, Normandy on July 11 (D-Day Plus 33).  They entered combat on July 19^th.

Stephen’s division moved to cut off the Brittany Peninsula, and then turned east for a rapid advance into the heart of enemy controlled France and successfully defeated several German Panzer Brigades in the Lorraine area. 

Corporal Stephen R. Mendrey was Killed In Action On October 2, 1944 in France, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

He is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery, in St. Avold, France.