Captain Richard Y. Stafford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Stafford, was born in Windsor, Mo., on December 11, 1916.
He attended the University of Missouri and graduated in 1938 with a business and public administration degree (in 1954, a dormitory, Stafford Hall, was named after him.)
After college, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 19, 1940, and, on February 20, 1941, he accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant at Quantico, Va. He remained at Quantico until May 29, when he was reassigned to San Diego. He saw duty at San Diego from June 16, 1941 to July 1942, and, on April 11, 1942, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On September 12, 1942, when he was promoted to captain, Stafford had been serving in the field for about a month.
Between October 9-11, Captain Stafford led his company of marines on a forced march through the dense jungle and swamps of Guadalcanal and, upon arriving at his objective, immediately deployed his command.
The enemy position was stronger than had been expected, and the ensuing fight was very brisk. Captain Stafford led his men in the assault and was killed by a Japanese rifleman. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer . . ." which constituted "an inspiration to the men of his command in the fulfillment of an important mission," Captain Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal.
For his heroism, the U.S. built the ship Stafford in his honor.
The Stafford (a DE-411) was laid down on November 29, 1943 in Houston, Texas by the Brown Shipbuilding Company. It was launched on January 11, 1944 and sponsored by Miss Flora Stafford. The ship was commissioned on April 19, 1944, by Lt. Comdr. V. H. Craig, Jr., USNR, in command.
The Stafford earned two battle stars during World War II.
He attended the University of Missouri and graduated in 1938 with a business and public administration degree (in 1954, a dormitory, Stafford Hall, was named after him.)
After college, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 19, 1940, and, on February 20, 1941, he accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant at Quantico, Va. He remained at Quantico until May 29, when he was reassigned to San Diego. He saw duty at San Diego from June 16, 1941 to July 1942, and, on April 11, 1942, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On September 12, 1942, when he was promoted to captain, Stafford had been serving in the field for about a month.
Between October 9-11, Captain Stafford led his company of marines on a forced march through the dense jungle and swamps of Guadalcanal and, upon arriving at his objective, immediately deployed his command.
The enemy position was stronger than had been expected, and the ensuing fight was very brisk. Captain Stafford led his men in the assault and was killed by a Japanese rifleman. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer . . ." which constituted "an inspiration to the men of his command in the fulfillment of an important mission," Captain Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal.
For his heroism, the U.S. built the ship Stafford in his honor.
The Stafford (a DE-411) was laid down on November 29, 1943 in Houston, Texas by the Brown Shipbuilding Company. It was launched on January 11, 1944 and sponsored by Miss Flora Stafford. The ship was commissioned on April 19, 1944, by Lt. Comdr. V. H. Craig, Jr., USNR, in command.
The Stafford earned two battle stars during World War II.
Captain Richard Y. Stafford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Stafford, was born in Windsor, Mo., on December 11, 1916.
He attended the University of Missouri and graduated in 1938 with a business and public administration degree (in 1954, a dormitory, Stafford Hall, was named after him.)
After college, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 19, 1940, and, on February 20, 1941, he accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant at Quantico, Va. He remained at Quantico until May 29, when he was reassigned to San Diego. He saw duty at San Diego from June 16, 1941 to July 1942, and, on April 11, 1942, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On September 12, 1942, when he was promoted to captain, Stafford had been serving in the field for about a month.
Between October 9-11, Captain Stafford led his company of marines on a forced march through the dense jungle and swamps of Guadalcanal and, upon arriving at his objective, immediately deployed his command.
The enemy position was stronger than had been expected, and the ensuing fight was very brisk. Captain Stafford led his men in the assault and was killed by a Japanese rifleman. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer . . ." which constituted "an inspiration to the men of his command in the fulfillment of an important mission," Captain Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal.
For his heroism, the U.S. built the ship Stafford in his honor.
The Stafford (a DE-411) was laid down on November 29, 1943 in Houston, Texas by the Brown Shipbuilding Company. It was launched on January 11, 1944 and sponsored by Miss Flora Stafford. The ship was commissioned on April 19, 1944, by Lt. Comdr. V. H. Craig, Jr., USNR, in command.
The Stafford earned two battle stars during World War II.
He attended the University of Missouri and graduated in 1938 with a business and public administration degree (in 1954, a dormitory, Stafford Hall, was named after him.)
After college, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on October 19, 1940, and, on February 20, 1941, he accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant at Quantico, Va. He remained at Quantico until May 29, when he was reassigned to San Diego. He saw duty at San Diego from June 16, 1941 to July 1942, and, on April 11, 1942, he was promoted to first lieutenant. On September 12, 1942, when he was promoted to captain, Stafford had been serving in the field for about a month.
Between October 9-11, Captain Stafford led his company of marines on a forced march through the dense jungle and swamps of Guadalcanal and, upon arriving at his objective, immediately deployed his command.
The enemy position was stronger than had been expected, and the ensuing fight was very brisk. Captain Stafford led his men in the assault and was killed by a Japanese rifleman. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer . . ." which constituted "an inspiration to the men of his command in the fulfillment of an important mission," Captain Stafford was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal.
For his heroism, the U.S. built the ship Stafford in his honor.
The Stafford (a DE-411) was laid down on November 29, 1943 in Houston, Texas by the Brown Shipbuilding Company. It was launched on January 11, 1944 and sponsored by Miss Flora Stafford. The ship was commissioned on April 19, 1944, by Lt. Comdr. V. H. Craig, Jr., USNR, in command.
The Stafford earned two battle stars during World War II.
Inscription
WWII; 26Y
Gravesite Details
Died in WWII in service. Posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
