Remains Of Jersey City World War II Soldier Recovered

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The remains of a Jersey City soldier serving in World War II were identified.

U.S. Army Private Stephen C. Mason, 21, of Jersey City, was killed during World War II. His remains were accounted for July 9.

In the fall of 1944, Mason was assigned to the Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He was reported missing in action during Operation MARKET GARDEN after his patrol failed to return from a mission to the enemy lines near Beek, Netherlands on Nov. 3. His body was never found until recently.

Mason posthumously received the Silver Star for his actions.

Following the war, the American Graves Registration Command, the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel, conducted several searches of the area, but by 1950, none of the remains found around Beek could be identified as Mason. He was declared non-recoverable in January 1951.

In 2015, DPAA historians began working on a comprehensive research and recovery project focused on those missing from Operation MARKET GARDEN. To identify Mason’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis as well as circumstantial evidence.

Mason’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Margarten, Netherlands, along with others still missing from WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Mason will be buried in North Arlington, New Jersey. The date has yet to be determined. For family and funeral information, contact the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.