Stanley Chrzanowski was born April 8, 1922 in Utica, NY to Alex Chrzanowski (1889-1966) and Jannina Bogdan (abt. 1894-1966). His parents were from Poland immigrating to the U.S. in 1907 and 1909 respectively. His dad was a farmer. His parents were married on September 12, 1910 in Utica, NY. Stanley was the third of their four boys which included older brothers Joseph and Peter (b. 1917) and younger brother Walter (b. 1923). The family moved to the Waterville, NY area when Stanley was young and he attended Waterville schools through the 8th grade. Like many young men of his time, Stanley worked the family farm.

Stanley enlisted in the service on January 21, 1941 with service number 12045674. He reported having a grammar school education, being single without dependents and working on a farm. Newspapers reported that he received his training at Fort Knox, Armored School. After training the 1st Armored sailed out of NY City to Northern Ireland where they went through more intensive training. In October 1942 they sailed to French North Africa, arriving around Oran, Algeria in early November 1942. It isn't certain whether Stanley sailed with this original contingent, or joined them later as a "replacement."

We do know that on February 15, 1943 the 1st Armored Regiment was fighting in central Tunisia during the first days of an enemy offensive (Unternehmen Fruhlingswind). It was during this fighting that Pfc. Chrzanowski, a tank gunner, went missing. His body was never recovered and the U.S. declared him dead a year and a day later. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at North African American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia.

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

Dad's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217720467/alexander-chrzanowski: accessed 27 Sep 2026), memorial page for Alexander Chrzanowski (1889–1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 217720467, citing Holy Trinity Cemetery and Mausoleum, Yorkville, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by B Rozpad (contributor 50074804).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56246161/stanley-chrzanowski: accessed 26 Sep 2026), memorial page for PFC Stanley Chrzanowski (unknown–15 Feb 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56246161, citing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Délégation de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia; Maintained by MAJ Jimmy Cotton (contributor 48803557).

"Local Honor Roll Will Be Marked With Gold Stars", The Waterville Times and Hop Reporter, Waterville, NY, October 25, 1945, pg. 1.

Mom's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/217720468/joanna-chrzanowski: accessed 27 Sep 2026), memorial page for Joanna Chrzanowski (1906–1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 217720468, citing Holy Trinity Cemetery and Mausoleum, Yorkville, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by B Rozpad (contributor 50074804).

"Mrs. Chrzanowski, Born in Poland", The Waterville Times, Waterville, NY, May 12, 1966, pg. 5.

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: 00821; Reel: 75

New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Birth Index

"Purple Heart Award Presented to Family", The Waterville Times and Hop Reporter, April 13, 1944, pg. 1.

Sons of Liberty Museum website accessed at https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/1st-armored-division-ww2.cfm on September 27, 2026.

"War Department Reports Pfc. Chrzanowski as Dead", The Waterville Times and Hop Reporter, March 9, 1944, pg.1.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Marshall, Oneida, New York; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0026; FHL microfilm: 2341354

Year: 1940; Census Place: Marshall, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02700; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 33-33

Supporting Documents