Private Stoehr served with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. His final campaign was the New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 2, which began 8 March 1942. Allied intelligence underestimated the strength of the Japanese force in the area, estimating 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers when there were over 6,500, all well dug in. The battle quickly turned into a series of bitter struggles over each defensive position. To instill new blood in the command structure, MacArthur brought in Robert Eichelberger, who arrived at the front on 2 Dec 1942. After a two-day break for reorganization, Eichelberger pushed on again on 5 December. On the following day, the Japanese finally broke at Gona. Buna fell to the Allies on 14 December. The last Japanese hold in the area was Sananda, which fell on 22 Jan 1943. Private Stoehr was killed in combat during the Battle of Sananda, on Christmas day. He was awarded a Purple Heart Medal. [Source: O’Neill, Arthur. (2013). They Served, Charleston, SC: CreateSpace. 2. 90.]
Private Stoehr served with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. His final campaign was the New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 2, which began 8 March 1942. Allied intelligence underestimated the strength of the Japanese force in the area, estimating 1,500 to 2,000 soldiers when there were over 6,500, all well dug in. The battle quickly turned into a series of bitter struggles over each defensive position. To instill new blood in the command structure, MacArthur brought in Robert Eichelberger, who arrived at the front on 2 Dec 1942. After a two-day break for reorganization, Eichelberger pushed on again on 5 December. On the following day, the Japanese finally broke at Gona. Buna fell to the Allies on 14 December. The last Japanese hold in the area was Sananda, which fell on 22 Jan 1943. Private Stoehr was killed in combat during the Battle of Sananda, on Christmas day. He was awarded a Purple Heart Medal. [Source: O’Neill, Arthur. (2013). They Served, Charleston, SC: CreateSpace. 2. 90.]
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
