Stanton M. Lammers
Biography: Stanton M. Lammers, “Stan”, was born on November 14, 1917, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Edwin Segen Lammers Jr. and Cora Donahey and graduated from Boys High School in DeCatur, Georgia.
Stan continued his education at the University of Georgia, receiving his Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1939. While in college, he participated in their R.O.T.C. program, serving in Company G of the school’s Infantry Regiment. He was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
After graduation, he worked as a journalist for the Atlanta Journal. His enlistment record indicates he may have had some advertising experience as well.
Service Time: Stan entered the Army on July 10, 1941, at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA. His previous military training would lead to him to become an officer and ultimately a platoon leader in Company B of the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. The 692nd trained within the U.S. at a number of military facilities, including Camp Gordon, Georgia, where the unit had been activated and then Camps Bowie and Hood, in Texas followed by Camp Phillips in Kansas. The unit participated in maneuvers in Tennessee before going to Camp Campbell, Kentucky, and then Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, for final preparations before shipping overseas. The unit was initially designated as a self-propelled battalion, but in March of 1944, they converted to a towed battalion, utilizing towed 3″ guns.
On April 12th, while on leave, Stan married the former Phyllis Mae Booher, who was born in Long Beach, California and was the daughter of Clark Booher and Hazel Berry. The photo at left shows the couple on the date of their wedding. Notice that Phyllis is also in uniform, since she was a member of the SPARS (Semper Paratus Always Read), the Women’s Reserve Corps of the Coast Guard.
The 692nd shipped out from the New York port on September 12th, 1944, aboard the HMS Scythia, and arrived in England on the 22nd. The next day they departed for France, arriving at Cherbourg on the 23rd, but didn’t disembark until the 25th. They entered the line near Wustwezel, Belgium, about October 28th and fought along the Siegfried Line, in the vicinity of Stolberg, beginning in November.
They occupied defensive positions along the Roer River during the Battle of the Bulge and converted to the M36 tank destroyer in February, 1945. The 692nd supported the drive from the Roer to the Rhine River in late February and early March, and helped capture Cologne, Germany. After clearing more Siegfried Line fortifications, they crossed the Rhine at Worms on March 31st and raced across Germany in April, participating in the capture of Furth.
On April 9th, 1st Lt. Stanton M. Lammers was leading his platoon in support of an infantry attack near Obbach, in Euerbach, Germany. They encountered multiple 88mm guns which were holding up the attack. The tank destroyer that Stan was riding in was hit, causing it to catch fire. Stan was wounded in the knee but was able to crawl out and climb into another unit. He continued to lead his platoon and ultimately destroyed the guns. He reluctantly left his unit the next day after being ordered to the hospital. Stan was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action.
The unit would go on to Munich by the end of the month and receive credit for campaigns in Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. In addition to the Silver Star, Stan also received the Purple Heart in recognition of the wounds he received. He left the service at the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Stan returned to the U.S. and the family would make their home in Glendale, CA. The couple would have two daughters, Catherine born in 1946, and Janet born in 1948. Stan worked as an insurance auditor and in his spare time he enjoyed playing bridge and golf. He also had a passion for writing, which included poetry. The following poem was written by Stan and shares some of his experiences during the war.
Six Towns to Valhalla – A poem by Stanton M. Lammers
Stan passed away on September 5, 1984, and was buried in Atlanta, GA. I want to thank Stan’s daughter Cathy, for providing the information and photos for this tribute. I also want to thank E-Yearbook for the photo of Stan, while a student at the University of Georgia. The photo is used by permission of Digital Data Online, Inc.
