Wastel William Stevens was born in 1922 in Tennessee, the son of George Stevens and Carrie Estelle Young. He had one brother, Clyde Russell Stevens, and one sister, Sarah Frances Stevens. He was initially assigned to the 77th Coast Artillery at Fort Bragg, near Fayetteville, N.C. and later assigned to the 374th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion.
Pfc. Stevens Died non Battle and is buried at Manila American Cemetery, Philippines, A, 5, 189
The Johnson City Press, 19 March 1944
Mrs. Carrie Stevens of 304 West Highland Road, Johnson City, has two sons in the armed forces, one in the Army and the other in the Marine Corps. The older son, Wastelle F. Stevens, a former student of Langston High School, volunteered for service in May, 1941. He trained at Ft. Bragg, N.C., and Manchester, Conn., after which he left the States late in 1942. He is now with the Coast Artillery in the South Pacific area of operations. Sergeant Stevens had spent 18 months in CCC Camps in Brighton and Collierville, Tenn., and was employed by a local department store when he volunteered for service. The younger son, Corporal Clyde R. Stevens, 19, left the States in January 1944 with a detachment of United States Marines for a Pacific destination. Young Stevens attended Langston High School, spent six months in CCC camp in Hamilton County, and was employed by a local beverage concern when called for service in June, 1943. Corporal Stevens did his training at Camp LeJeune, N.C., and spent an eight-day furlough with his mother and friends just before leaving for the Pacific.
I just found out about him looking up my family history. He is my Uncle. I never got the chance to meet him. His brother Corporal Clyde R Stevens is my dad. Why was he buried so far away from our family.
–Submitted by his niece, Jessica Bradley
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of death: 19 November 1944
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 374th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Middle Panel
- Sponsored by: Jessica Bradley
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