Stephen Dorje

Submitted by: Tanveer Kalo

Stephen Dorje born around 1887. Stephen Dorje served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

 

Private Stephen Dorje was born on June 24, 1887 in Darjeeling, British India. He immigrated to the United States on January 24, 1915 on the ship Minnewaska from British Indian via London, England at age of 30. The New York Passenger List from this date recorded, Dorje's race as British Indian and final destination as Washington, D.C.

Dorje registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 in D.C. His World War I draft card recorded his race as Mongolian and married. The card also recorded that he worked as a butler for Samuel Ross at 2328 Mass Ave in D.C and was an alien.

Dorje entered in the U.S. Army on January 28, 1918. Private Dorje was assigned to the Field Remount Squadron 301, Quartermaster Corps. On April 30, 1918, Dorje departed from Hoboken, New Jersey with his unit on the ship Finland for France.

On October 5, 1919, Private Dorje and his unit departed from Brest, France on the ship Princess Matoika. They arrived to Hoboken, New Jersey for Camp Merritt on October 15, 1919.

Private Dorje was honorably discharged on October 21, 1919.

After the war, Dorje returned to D.C. He applied for a U.S. military petition for U.S. naturalization on February 2, 1920. His petition also stated that he had divorced wife in India.

Stephan Dorje died on July 5, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age of 30. Dorje's Pennsylvania Death Certificate recorded his race as Japanese. The certificate also recorded his cause of death as post operation death. His operation was on his cerebral cord. Evelyn Dorje was listed on the death certificate, who could have been his wife.