PVT Joseph J. Leon

courtesy of Glenn

PVT Joseph J. Leon was born 18 Jul 1922 in New York, New York to Arturo and Julia Leon. His parents and older siblings were natives of Puerto Rico. His father owned a cigar store and the family traveled several times to and from Puerto Rico.

We think that Joseph "fudged" his birth date to enlist in the New York National Guard in 1939 (M Company 71st Infantry).  His unit was federalized on 16 Sep 1940.  However, PVT Leon was not transferred to B Company 116th Infantry until 11 Aug 1944 and came to the unit from the replacement depot.  He was wounded on 3 Sep 1944 and evacuated to the hospital.  Again, we do not know when he returned to the unit but he is shown as being promoted to PFC on 20 Sep 1944.  Despite this entry in the morning report he is still shown as a PVT in the entry recording his being killed in action on 25 Oct 1944. 

PVT Leon was repatriated and is buried in Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.