PFC Thomas Woodrow Stevens

PFC Thomas Woodrow Stevens was born in Wesmoreland County, Virginia on 20 Jan 1915. He was the 5th of 9 children born to Dr. Richard Edwin and Fannie Fairfax (Purcell) Stephens. We do not know when or why Thomas began using the alternative spelling of the family name but this is how it appears on all military documents. His father is noted on the 1920 census as being a "horse doctor" but this consistent reference may not have been because Richard had any medical or veterinary degrees. Richard was supporting his family as a farmer in 1930 but as a veterinarian in 1940.  Thomas was living in Callao, Virginia and self-employed in 1940. 

Thomas was single when he was drafted in May 1941. He was sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland for processing and assigned to E Company 116th Infantry. He then trained with the company there, near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and at Camp Blanding, Florida before sailing to England with the regiment in September 1942. Once in England he began the intensive training that the whole 29th Division experienced there and then the amphibious training in preparation for the landing which took place on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Stevens was killed in action on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944 when he was shot through the spine. Although treated he died very soon after being wounded. 

PFC Stevens was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Gibeon Baptist Church Cemetery in Gibeon, Virginia.