Stanley John Borcz was born January 21, 1917 in Utica, NY to Andrew Borcz (1888 abt-1960) and Rozalia "Rose" Puszkosz (1889-1962). His parents were married in 1913 in Poland and came to Utica that same year. Later they moved to Yorkville, living there for 13 years before moving to Westmoreland, NY. Stanley was the oldest of their three children which included Margaret (Mary) (1921-1981) and John (1921-1988). His dad was employed by the Emil George Coal Co. in Utica for 11 years and later with the help of his mom ran a dairy farm on Hecla road in Westmoreland, NY. His mom and dad were members of St. Mary's Church of the Sacred Heart in New York Mills, NY. He attended St. Mary's Church and Parochial School in New York Mills and was employed by Oneida Ltd. in Sherrill, NY.

Stanley served in the NY National Guard prior to being drafted in December 1941. His service number was 20279674. The only picture of Pfc. Borcz I was able to find appeared in the NY National Guard's Pictorial History of the 27th Division 1940-1941 with the 3rd Battalion, 106th Infantry (see below). He entered the service when the Guard was federalized in October 1941. He did training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama and then was assigned to Company A, 19th Engineer Regiment and did additional training in California. He was sent overseas (to Ireland) late in 1942. From there his unit landed in French North Africa (Morocco and Algeria) to support assault troops during Operation Torch (the invasion of North Africa by the Allies during World War II).

The 19th Engineer Regiment was often under fire during Operation Torch, especially as the fighting intensified in early 1943. Pfc. Borcz was killed in action on January 29, 1943 in Sbeitla, Tunisia. He was initially buried in the Tabessa American Cemetery, Tabessa, Algeria Grave 8, Row 1, Plot A. In the summer of 1948, during the government's body recovery program, and at the request of his father his remains were escorted home aboard the USAT Barney Kirschbaum and buried in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira NY. Plot F, 0, 4242. A memorial Mass was held for Stanley at the St. Mary's Church in New York Mills. The mass was sung by the Philharmonic Choir 120, Polish Singers of America with Miss Stephanie Nowicki as soloist. The local Boy Scout Troop 25 sounded taps. His body was attended by The American Women's Hospital Reserve Corp. The Whitestown American Legion and its auxiliary also attended. Later that same year his father, Andrew, received his citizenship papers at the Rome Court House.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

"11 Area Dead Enroute Home From N. Africa", Utica Daily Press, May 1?, 1948, pg. 16

"11 Area Dead From Africa Reach Port", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, May 15, 1948, pg. 2

Andrew Borcz Obituary, Utica Observer-Dispatch, May 18, 1960, pg. ?4.

“Army Lists Deaths Of 2 Area Soldiers”, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, date, page illegible.

His FAG: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/388114/stanley_j-borcz: accessed April 13, 2026), memorial page for PFC Stanley J Borcz (21 Jan 1917–29 Jan 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 388114, citing Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, USA; Maintained by Dawn Frech Guevara (contributor 48621868).

His Mom's FAG: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55251444/rozalia-borcz: accessed April 13, 2026), memorial page for Rozalia “Rose” Puszkosz Borcz (1889–31 Jan 1962), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55251444, citing Saint Stanislaus-Saint Casimir Societies Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Katherine Russ (contributor 49759886).

His Dad's FAG: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55251443/andrew-borcz: accessed April 13, 2026), memorial page for Andrew Borcz (1890–17 May 1960), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55251443, citing Saint Stanislaus-Saint Casimir Societies Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Katherine Russ (contributor 49759886).

Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Borcz, Stanley J., 20270674, National Archives, St. Louis, MO. Freedome of Information Request April 16, 2026.

"Killed in Africa", The Clinton Courier, Clinton, NY, February 11, 1943, pg. 2

"Many Parents of Service Men Receive Citizenship Papers", Utica Daily Press, December 9, 1943, pg. [illegible].

"Mass Celebrated for Soldier", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, March 9, 1943, pg. [illegible]

Mrs. Andrew Borcz Obituary, Utica Daily Press, February 1, 1962, pg. 26.

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 03383; Reel: 60

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

"Native Utican Killed in Action", unknown source, found via Fultonhistory.com with a search "Stanley Borcz".

Pictorial History, 27th Division, United States Army, 1940-1941, Army-Navy Publishers, Inc. Bona Allen Building, Atlanta, Georgia.

Stanley Borcz Killed in Action, Utica Observer-Dispatch, February 9, 1943, pg. 2-A.

“Stanley J. Borcz of Westmoreland Killed in Africa”, Syracuse Herald-Journal, date illegible, pg. 10.

"Stanley J. Borcz Reported Missing", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, February 9, 1943, pg. 7.

"War Note Marks Naturalization", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, December 8, 1943, pg. 2.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Yorkville, Oneida, New York; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 2341357

Supporting Documents