Leon Bryant (WWII Casualty)

UNIT: 362nd Infantry Regiment, 91st Infantry Division

RANK: Private First Class

BORN: September 3, 1918

WHERE: Dover, Stewart Co., Tennessee

DIED: September 30, 1944

WHERE: Italy

CAUSE OF DEATH: Killed in Action near Monghidoro, Italy

BURIED: Florence American Cemetery - Florence, Italy

MARKER: Military

Collinsville Herald – August 10, 1944
Provided by Gene Beals (2007)

Pfc. Leon Bryant
Wounded in Action In Fighting in Italy

Pfc. Leon Bryant, 25, husband of Mrs. Alda Bryant, 400 South Clinton street, and son of William Bryant of Belleville, and Mrs. Lula Ralls, 304 Brown avenue, was officially reported wounded in action July 16, somewhere in the Italian Theatre, in a telegram received by his wife Saturday, August 5, from the War Department.

Bryant a member of the Infantry entered into the service August 17, 1943, and was stationed at Camp Adair, Oregon. He volunteered for overseas duty May1, 1944, being first stationed somewhere in Africa and then somewhere in Italy.

He attended the public schools at Belleville, and was employed by Koppers United Blast Furnace in Granite City, Ill., prior to his induction into the service.

Collinsville Herald – October 26, 1944
Provided by Gene Beals (2007)

Pfc. Leon Bryant
Killed in Action In Italy Sept. 30
Previously in Africa
Wounded July 16

Pfc. Leon Bryant, twenty-five, husband of Mrs. Alda Bryant, 400 South Clinton, and son of Mr. William Bryant of Belleville, and Mrs. Lulu Ralls, 304 Brown Avenue, was officially reported killed in action September 30, somewhere in Italy. The telegram was received by his wife Friday, October 20, from the War Department.

Bryant, a member of the infantry was slightly wounded in action on Sunday, July 16, in Italy, and received treatment at an Army hospital. On Monday, July 17, he returned to active duty.

Pfc. Bryant entered in the service of the armed forces of his country on August 17, 1943, and received his infantry training at Camp Adair, Oregon. On Monday, May 1, 1944, he volunteered for overseas duties, and was first stationed somewhere in Africa, and later was sent to the Italian Theatre of the War.

Mrs. Bryant received her last letter from her husband on Tuesday, October 10, at which time he told her that he was getting along fine. He also informed her that he was writing his letter from a foxhole and said that he was using the last envelope, “so I’m sending Mother’s letter.”

Bryant was awarded the Infantry Combat Badge in August.

He attended the public schools at Belleville, and was employed by Kopper’s United Blast Furnace, Granite City, prior to his induction into the service.

Index of Collinsville WWII Casualties

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