Remembering Local World War II Heroes: Joseph Stapleton, Albert Stomber
When he was just an infant, Joseph Stapleton’s parents were believed to have been killed in a car accident and were buried in their hometown of South Orange, N.J. The 1940 census of Gardner listed him as living in Harrison, N.J., in the previous (1935) census and the name Claskey appeared near his, noting that he was adopted.
Although it was difficult to completely determine the exact circumstances, young Stapleton would be adopted by an aunt and uncle who raised him as their own.
Dr. Willard Pierce Stapleton was an ear, nose and throat doctor who had an office at 21 Pleasant St. in Gardner. He and his wife, the former Laura (Regan) Stapleton, lived at 246 Chestnut St. and did not have children of their own.
Stapleton’s aunt and uncle would become the only parents he would know.
This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.
Pfc. Joseph W. Stapleton (1923-1945)
Joseph Willard Stapleton was born in Gardner on June 11, 1923, the adopted son of Dr. Willard Pierce and Laura (Regan) Stapleton. He attended School Street School and later Gardner High School, where he was a pro merito graduate of the Class of 1940. He enrolled in Bowdoin College after high school.
Stapleton entered the military service on Feb. 2, 1942, at Boston. He served in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) as a medical student while at Bowdoin. Later that year, he was sent to Yale University as a medical student in the ASTP.
He decided to follow in the footsteps of his father into the medical field, becoming a doctor in the Army and later returning to Gardner to open his own practice. He graduated from Yale in 1943 and enrolled as a medical student at Boston University.
On May 30, 1945, while in his dormitory at Boston University, Stapleton was stricken by a moving blood clot in his pulmonary artery and died suddenly at the age of 21.
According to newspaper reports, Stapleton had attained one of the highest ratings in his class scholastically and was an honor student of his class. He had been in apparent good health prior to his sudden death.
He was later awarded the American Theater Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal.
Stapleton was laid to rest near the parents he never knew at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange, N.J.
Cpl. Albert F. Stomber (1926-1946)
Albert F. Stomber was born in Gardner on Feb. 3, 1926, the son of Frank S. and Margaret (Mountain) Stomber. He was a pro merito graduate of Gardner High School in the Class of 1944.
His father was an employee of Gem Crib and Cradle and the family lived at 346 Pleasant St.
Right after graduation, Stomber entered the military service on July 20, 1944, at Fort Devens and received his basic training in the armored force unit at North Camp Hood, Texas. He was later transferred to the air forces and sent to the Pacific Theater on June 3, 1945.
He served in Okinawa as well as in the Philippines.
On May 11, 1946, Stomber was a passenger in a bomb service truck driven by a fellow officer that was returning to Naha, Okinawa, near their military base. Suddenly, the truck swerved, skidded sideways and overturned on the side of the road. The accident occurred in Machinato, just five miles north of their destination.
Stomber, who was serving there as a member of the 21st Fighter Squadron, 413th Fighter Group, was severely injured in the crash. He was treated at the Ninth Station Military Hospital in Okinawa for a cerebral concussion and contusion of the right thorax.
Tragically, he never recovered from his injuries and died two days later on May 13, 1946, at the age of 20.
Stomber was posthumously awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with one battle star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal.
He was buried in an American military cemetery in Okinawa.
Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Remembering World War II Heroes: Joseph Stapleton, Albert Stomber
