He was one of the few remaining WWII vets in the country. He was a real hero...I'm named after him.

Steven S. F., 87, of Rapid City, died Sunday, Nov 13^th at Rapid City  Regional Hospital. Steven was born on November 2, 1919  in Vega, SD to Stephanie  and Vaclave F.   He was raised on a farm during the  great depression and attended a small country school.    He  enlisted in the  US Army in December of 1941.  Steve served with the 90^th Division, 357 Regiment,, Company F Infantry with the rank of Sergeant.  Dad was proud that he made the D-Day invasion of Normandy in June of 1944 on Utah Beach.  He was captured on June 19, 1944, when his outfit was overrun by a German tank battalion that saw his outfit suffer 44 killed and 73 wounded.  He was one of 14 from his company that was taken prisoner.

His experience as a prisoner of war in Stalag III C at Altdrewitz, Germany, changed his life. A few years ago Steve went back to Avon, SD, and ran into a friend who was in Stalag III C with him.  They got to talking about the time Steve had managed to save up a couple pieces of bread as food was hard to come by.  His friend broke down crying as he recalled how Steve had given him the bread that he had saved up. 

He and another soldier escaped in 1945, making their way through war torn Europe and all the was across Russia to Odessa, where they were able to finally ship home. The trip across Europe to Odessa Russia was a harrowing time.  Steve used to joke that they were not sure whether they would get shot by the Germans or the Russians first.  He was really bothered about the time they hid in cover outside a small town, the name he never knew, and watched as the Germans shot everybody.