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Sergeant Stephen Fred Kuzma, Jr.

A black and white headshot of a young White man in uniform.
  • Unit: Fleet Marine Force, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion
  • Date of Birth: April 18, 1925
  • Entered the Military: August 18, 1943
  • Date of Death: November 1, 2022
  • Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
  • Place of Death: Springfield, Missouri
  • Award(s): Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Section F, Grave 102. Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri
2025/2026

Early Life

Stephen Fred Kuzma was born on April 18, 1925, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Stephen Sr. and Susan. Stephen Sr. was born in Austria, while Susan was born in Pennsylvania. The couple had three other children: Margaret, Dorothy, and Florence. 

Kuzma attended Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri, graduating in 1943. He worked at the Beaty Grocery Company #25.

A snippet of the 1940 census.
The 1940 U.S. Census shows the Kuzma family living in St. Joseph, Missouri. Father, Stephen Sr., works as a railroad foreman. National Archives and Records Administration.

Homefront

At the start of World War II, St. Joseph, Missouri, and the surrounding areas were historically a major meatpacking hub, with processing facilities like Armour and Swift. These processing plants had operated there since the late 1800s. Throughout the war, livestock remained Missouri’s top farm product. St. Joseph’s packing plants helped feed both the troops overseas and the civilians at home.

In the neighborhoods, ordinary citizens found many ways to contribute to the war effort. Schools and community organizations planted Victory Gardens to grow their own food and ease pressure on the national food supply. Local Red Cross chapters were also busy, with their members training nurses, knitting more than 2,000 garments for the troops, donating hundreds of hours to the USO, and assembling over 100,000 surgical dressings.

Even with all of this activity, the city’s population declined both before and during the war. In the 1930s, the city’s stockyards were among the largest in the country, employing more than 6,000 people, but as the wartime industry drew workers to larger cities with bigger factories in places such as nearby Kansas City, St. Joseph struggled to keep up. 

A color advertisement featuring Uncle Sam holding a basket full of meat.
An advertisement for Swift & Company meats, 1943. Swift.

Military Experience

On August 18, 1943, Stephen Kuzma joined the United States Marine Corps in Kansas City, Missouri. He underwent recruit training at the Marine Corps Base San Diego. During training, he qualified with the rifle and chemical warfare instruction. He also completed the bayonet and carbine courses. 

On December 14, 1943, Kuzma crossed the equator and became a “Shellback” aboard USS George F. Elliott. A “Shellback” is a term the U.S. Navy uses to describe someone who has crossed the equator on a ship. 

From October 24 to November 2, 1944, Kuzma participated in field operations on Guam as part of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. The unit’s goal was to sweep the remaining Japanese forces from the island. On November 18, Kuzma completed the Regimental Demolitions School. Later that month, he was promoted to corporal. 

On February 17, 1945, Kuzma embarked aboard USS James O’Hara at Guam for Iwo Jima. He served on Iwo Jima until approximately March 20, 1945. On September 1, 1945, Kuzma was promoted to sergeant. 

Kuzma’s foreign service ended November 24, 1945, when he arrived back in California aboard USS Sandoval. Kuzma was honorably discharged on December 16, 1945. Upon his discharge, he was recommended for the Good Conduct Medal. 

Kuzma re-enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on August 24, 1948, at St. Joseph, Missouri. He was assigned to Battery B, 1st 105mm Howitzer Battalion at the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in St. Joseph. He was discharged on January 18, 1949, at his own request. 

A typed/handwritten record of Kuzma’s movements.
Stephen Kuzma’s professional and conduct record, 1945. Official Military Personnel Record, National Archives and Records Administration.

Veteran Experience

After Kuzma left the military, he lived in St. Joseph, Missouri, and worked for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad. He married Estelle Martha Dobler on December 30, 1950. Together, they had a son, Stephen Michael, and a daughter, Susan. 

In 1959, the couple moved to Aurora, Illinois, and Kuzma continued to work as an inspector for the railroad. 

In 1989, Kuzma lost his wife, Estelle, and in 1993, he moved to Springfield, Missouri. In his spare time, Kuzma was an avid golfer at Twin Oaks Country Club. He was also an active member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield. 

A typed listing for Kuzma.
The 1951 St. Joseph City Directory listing for Kuzma shows him working for the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad. Ancestry.
A typed list of golf scores and names.
Stephen Kuzma scored in the top ten at the Missouri Senior Amateur golf tournament, July 16, 1992. Columbia Daily Tribune.

Commemoration

Stephen Kuzma passed away on November 1, 2022. He was laid to rest at the Springfield National Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri. Stephen left behind his son, Stephen Michael, and two grandchildren, Kelly and Scott. His daughter, Susan, had predeceased him in 2011.

A color image of a headstone.
Stephen Kuzma’s headstone at the Springfield National Cemetery. Find a Grave.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“1950 Census of Population Preliminary Counts.” Bureau of the Census. September 14, 1950. Accessed Nov. 11, 2025. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/pc-02/pc-2-44.pdf. 

Accounting for War, Again. Photograph. 1943. Swift Collection, Swift Company. https://swiftmeats.com/heritage. 

“Dobler-Kuzma.” St. Joseph News-Press [St. Joseph, Missouri], November 5, 1950. Newspapers.com (561205906).

“Live Stock Still Major Missouri Farm Product.” St. Joseph News-Press [St. Joseph, Missouri], February 15, 1942. Newspapers.com (55903232).

“One Great St. Joseph Asset.” St. Joseph Gazette [St. Joseph, Missouri], January 2, 1942. Newspapers.com (560659005).

Missouri. Buchanan County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

“Missouri Senior Amateur.” Columbia Daily Tribune [Columbia, Missouri], July 16, 1992. Newspapers.com (1020400635).

“Red Cross Has A Busy Year Ahead.” St. Joseph News-Press [St. Joseph, Missouri], January 24, 1943. Newspapers.com (559970517).

“Schools to Have Victory Gardens.” St. Joseph News-Press. [St. Joseph, Missouri], January 24, 1943. Newspapers.com (559973030).

Stephen Kuzma, Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Stephen F. Kuzman. U.S., City Directories, 1882-1995. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

Stephen F. Kuzman. U.S., Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.

“Stephen Fred Kuzma Jr. Obituary.” Echovita. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/mo/springfield/stephen-fred-kuzma-jr-15456298. 

Stephen Fred Kuzma Jr. U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com/. 

Secondary Sources

“Hard Times.” Soul of a People. Accessed November 28, 2025. https://specialcollections.wichita.edu/exhibits/soulofapeople.html. 

“History of St. Joseph.” St. Joseph, Missouri City Government. Accessed November 11, 2025. https://www.stjosephmo.gov/151/History-of-St-Joseph. 

“Missouri Population 1900-1990.” Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed Nov. 11, 2025. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/population-estimates/historical/cities1900-1990.pdf. 

“Stephen Fred Kuzma.” Find a Grave. Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245291369/stephen-fred-kuzma.

“Stephen Fred Kuzma.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed May 15, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/STEPHENFREDKUZMAJR/a1e73c.


This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.