1st Lt. George F. Studor

Biography and Wartime Service

George Frederick Studor was born on August 4, 1918, in Schenectady, New York, to Helen Charlotte Kentner (1889–1989) and Frank Frederick Studor (1890–1959). Geoge Studor married Dorothy May Briggs (1921-2007) on December 1, 1942, in Syracuse, New York. They had seven children during their marriage.

After attending ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) for four years, George Studor received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant on June 8, 1942. The next day he went to Fort Ontario, New York to report for active duty. From then on, training as an infantryman began at Fort Benning, Georgia. After this he was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division and continued training participating in maneuvers in Tennessee and Florida in preparation for specific combat situations. The following summer, the 28th was at Camp Picket, Virginia in final preparation to go overseas.

At his final medical checkup, however, things went wrong. The doctor determined that he had to undergo double hernia surgery, so it greatly disappointed him to have to leave his boys behind. On New Year's Day 1943, after a long absence, he was on his way to Camp Breckingridge, Kentucky to join the already formed 83rd Infantry Division. On March 24, 1944, the division was taken by train to Camp Shanks, New York to be shipped to England where, after twelve long days, they arrived aboard HMS Samaria. There, more training awaited to prepare the division for combat on the mainland.

After their arrival at Omaha Beach on June 23, 1944 (D+17), the 83rd marched toward Carentan to relieve the 101st Airborne near Sainteny. From here, George Studor and the 83rd fought their way through France, Luxembourg and Belgium toward Germany. In Belgium, he found a large mansion in the village of Sy to bivouac his platoon. The owner warmly welcomed the Americans after four years of German occupation. After the war, George Studor Sr. and Madame de Hepcee (Sy, Ardennes, Belgium) stayed in touch for quite some time, and when he and his wife visited Europe on the occasion of 40 years of D-Day, they met again. Even until today, the Studors and De Hepcees remain in touch.

After V-E day, May 8, 1945, units and soldiers were assigned new duties, and George Sudor was transferred to the 393rd Infantry Regiment of the 99th Division on Jul 9, 1945, as part of the postwar Occupation Army. In Barnum and Neindorf, he briefly held the office of mayor. Still later, in Kissenbruck, he and his sergeant managed to capture a war criminal hiding in the hills.

After the war, a points system was put together based on medals earned and length of service to determine who was allowed to return home. George Studor achieved the required number but ironically, it was his last medical check-up that stopped him. One of his wisdom teeth had to be pulled where the doctor broke his jaw. This delayed his departure by another six weeks. Finally on September 20, 1945 he landed aboard the SS Admiral Copps in Hampton Roads, Virginia. For his service, among other decorations, 1st Lt. George F. Studor received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a Silver campaign star for five campaigns.

George Frederick Studor died on March 13, 1993, in Cazenovia, New York, when he was 74 years old.

I met his son George F. Studor Jr. and other relatives on several occasions. For the first time at the Reunion of the 83rd Division Association, West Point, New York, 2011. September 2016, George Studor Jr. and his daughter Amanda retraced some of 1st Lt. Studor’s path and visited us in Putte, Belgium.

Gallery

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