Stanley Bender; Highly Decorated World War II Hero

Stanley Bender, 85, a highly decorated and publicized hero of World War II who won the Medal of Honor for knocking out two German machine-gun nests. Bender was an Army staff sergeant when, two months after the June, 1944, Normandy invasion, he stormed through a rain of bullets and grenades to take out the machine-gunners. His actions were credited with inspiring his troops to overwhelm the occupied town of La Londe, France. Bender also was awarded France’s highest award, the Croix de Guerre, as well as the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and seven battle stars. Two bridges on the West Virginia Turnpike were named in his honor, the first in 1954, and the second in 1987. In Oak Hill, W.Va. on Wednesday of cancer.