TSGT Leo James Nash

courtesy of Skip Farrow

TSGT Leo James Nash was born 7 Sep 1923 in Lena, Illinois. He was the only known child of Rachel Fey "Rae" Mead. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Richard Henry and Estella Octavia (Adams) Mead. His grandfather worked at various jobs including laborer on a stock farm and  a cabinet maker.

Leo was working for Kraft Cheese Company when he was drafted in July 1942. After basic training he was sent to England and assigned to A Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault on occupied France which would take place on the Normandy beach at Vierville-sur-mer on 6 Jun 1944. PFC Nash survived the landing and fought with the unit in the bocage. He was promoted to SSG on 20 Jun 1944, having likely had numerous opportunities to display his leadership skills and knowledge in his greatly depleted unit. SSG Nash was serving as a squad leader when he was wounded on 30 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He was apparently returned to the unit on 2 Aug 1944 and promoted to TSGT on 13 Sep 1944. TSGT Nash was wounded by a land mine on 8 Oct 1944 and evacuated to hospital eventually being evacuated to Cambridge, England where he suffered gangrene and died of his wound(s) on 16 Oct 1944.

TSGT Nash rests forever in the Cambridge American Cemetery.

Grandfather, Richard Henry Mead, served as a PVT in E Company 2nd Wisconsin Infantry in the Spanish-American War. Great-grandfather, Ephraim P. Mead, served as a PVT in H Company 14th Wisconsin Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.