World War II Honoree

Leonard H. Foust

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chatham, Virginia

Honored By

Ms. Beckner

Relationship

Daughters

SERVED WITH THE 367TH COMBAT ENGINEERS, 406TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUN BATTALION. STATIONED AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. TRAVELLED TO NEW YORK. SPENT 14 DAYS GOING TO AFRICA; WENT ON TO CORSICA, THEN ITALY FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY. THEN TO MARSEILLES, FRANCE; TO GERMANY, MUNICH AND MANHEIM. COMBAT MISSION TO SHOOT DOWN ENEMY IN GERMAN PLANES. THE PLANES WERE SO CLOSE HE COULD SEE THE SWASTIKA ON THEIR HELMETS. BUILT THE BAILEY BRIDGE OVER THE RHINE RIVER. BUILT THE HEIDELBERG BRIDGE AND ALSO BUILT THE STUTTGART BRIDGE THAT WAS COMPLETED 3 DAYS BEFORE THE WAR ENDED. IN SERVICE FOR 38 MONTHS, 31 OF WHICH WERE SPENT OVERSEAS. AWARDED 5 BATTLE STARS. RETURNED HOME ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH ON OCTOBER 16, 1945. PLAYED BASEBALL OVERSEAS, HIS TEAM WAS THE DODGERS. THEY WENT TO ITALY FOR A BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AND PLACED 2ND.