Stephen Ganzberger

Stephen Ganzberger
Stephen in his navy uniform.
Born	(1924-08-25)August 25, 1924
Died	May 20, 2011(2011-05-20) (aged 86)
Place of birth	Wyandotte, Michigan
Place of death	Southgate, Michigan
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1942-1945
Rank	Quartermaster 2nd Class
Unit	USS LCI (L) 329; USS LCI (G) 65
Battles/wars	World War II *New Georgia Campaign *Battle of Treasury Islands *Neutralisation of Rabaul *Battle of the Green Islands *Battle of Morotai *Battle of Leyte *Invasion of Lingayen Gulf

Stephen (n) Ganzberger (25 August 1924 - 20 May 2011) was an American World War II Navy veteran, city councilman, and former representative to the Michigan Civil Service Commission.

Early life

Stephen was born in Wyandotte, Michigan to Joseph and Amelia Ganzberger on August 25, 1924. His parents were immigrants from Hungary. His other siblings included Ida, William, Frank, John, and Barbara.

Military Service

He enlisted in the United States Navy the day after his 18th birthday on August 26, 1942 during World War II. Ganzberger served aboard the USS LCI (L) 329 (November 8, 1942—January 1944) and the USS LCI (G) 65 (January 16, 1944—May 15, 1945) in the Pacific Theater. He was on active duty for 36 straight months.

Heroic actions

On the afternoon of July 4, 1943, while LCI Group 14 Flotilla 5 was landing Army troops of the 169th Infantry onto the beaches of Rendova Island, sixteen Japanese Mitsubishi 97 bombers in attack formation bombed the Allied landing beaches. Aboard LCI (L) 329 he shot down one of the twelve bombers that were eventually shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

On October 24, 1944 at around 9 a.m., a kamikaze pilot made a suicide crash dive into the stern of the LCI (G) 65, killing Stephen’s friend, ship's cook Lester Eugene Aiston, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.

By war's end, he'd earned a silver service star and two bronze service stars for an accumulation of all actions performed during Operation Cartwheel and the Philippines Campaign. He fought in seven campaigns total: New Georgia Campaign, Battle of Treasury Islands, Neutralisation of Rabaul, Battle of the Green Islands, Battle of Morotai, Battle of Leyte and Invasion of Lingayen Gulf.

End of the war

Stephen was honorably discharged as a Quartermaster 2nd Class from the Navy on August 15, 1945.

Later life

He worked as a sheet metal, heating and air conditioning mechanic for more than fifty years. He would become a Southgate City Councilman for 14 years from 1970 to 1984, in Southgate, Michigan. He was elected as a credit union president, and later as president of Sheet Metal Workers Local 80. He was instrumental in many community and fundraising projects, and also served as the employee representative to the Michigan Civil Service Commission.

When he retired, he became a licensed builder and a heating, ventilating and air conditioning contractor. He also served as liaison to the Capital Improvements Commission, where he provided input into the construction of City Hall, Police & Fire departments, and the courthouse.

Personal life

He married Patricia C. Shedlik on April 28, 1951, and they remained together for 60 years. They eventually had six children.

Death

He died on May 20, 2011 in Southgate, Michigan at the age of 86. He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, and his grave can be found at the Columbarium in Court 8, Section RR, row 5, site 4.

Post-Death

On February 1, 2022, an award-winning book was published about Ganzberger's World War II story titled, When the Beaches Trembled: The Incredible True Story of Stephen Ganzberger and the LCIs in World War II, written by his grandson, Zach S. Morris. On August 27, 2022, When the Beaches Trembled won the Silver Medal Award from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).

Awards and decorations

• Combat Action Ribbon
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with silver battle star
• Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 bronze battle stars
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
• World War II Victory Medal
• Amphibious Force Insignia (Navy)
• Honorable Service Lapel Button

In December 2013, he was awarded a Presidential Letter of Gratitude from U.S. President Barack Obama.

In April 2014, a legacy scholarship was created by the Southgate Historical Foundation in his name.

References

• http://www.americanhungarianfederation.org/news_memorials_stephen_ganzberger.htm
• Stephen Ganzberger at Find a Grave
• https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/61972/Ganzberger-Stephen.htm
• https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/metro-detroit/2014/12/08/fourth-fought-back-wwii-navy-veterans-southgate-livonia-recount-south-pacific-landing/20106847/
• https://www.thenewsherald.com/2014/04/19/scholarship-created-in-southgate-councilwoman-late-husbands-name-video/
• USS LCI 65 navsource page: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150065.htm
• PR Newswire (Feb 1, 2022): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/author-shares-grandfathers-war-stories-of-wwii-unsung-heroes-in-when-the-beaches-trembled-the-incredible-true-story-of-stephen-ganzberger-and-the-lcis-in-world-war-ii-301472669.html
• MWSA 2022 Finalists: http://www.mwsadispatches.com/2022-season/
• Stephen Ganzberger Fold3 Profile: https://www.fold3.com/memorial/640259570/stephen-ganzberger/gallery
• Amazon, When the Beaches Trembled: https://www.amazon.com/When-Beaches-Trembled-Incredible-Ganzberger/dp/B09RFVNQ9P