Roll of Honor
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Stephen Stavers
- School: Columbia College, Graduate Faculties
- Class Year: 1940, 1941
- War: World War II
- Date of Death: September 18, 1944
Captain Stephen Stavers, U.S. Marine Corps, was killed on September 18, 1944, by a Japanese sniper during the early stages of the Palau invasion in the Pacific. The New York Times referred to him at the time as "one of the country's foremost exponents of bayonet and hand-to-hand fighting." While at Columbia, he was a champion swimmer and sports correspondent for that newspaper. He had also established a Marine Corps Individual Combat School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in 1942. His wide knowledge of amphibious operations caused him to be cited as "one of the three most proficient instructors in the United States Armed Forces."
Is any of our information incorrect? You can submit corrections, additional photos, and/or tributes to uarchives@columbia.edu.