World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Leo S. Edwards
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Lea County, New Mexico
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. A PARATROOPER, WHO WAS ASSIGNED THE 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE JUMPED INTO FRANCE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY, INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1944 DURING THE GERMAN COUNTERATTACK ON CARENTAN AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.