Leon Szymanski - 119th Infantry Reg't, 30th Infantry Div.

My grandfather passed in 1998, and only ever discussed his time in ww2 twice in his lifetime. Everything I know about his service is either a result of my own research or my grandmother's memories.

He entered the service in 1943, and trained at Fort Meade and later at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. He shipped over to England in June 1944 as part of the 41st Replacement Battalion, spent some time at Camp Houndstone in Yeovil, England, and on July 17th was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 119th Infantry Reg't, 30th Infantry Division. He was a PFC, and his paperwork lists him as a light mortar crewman. I've obtained company level morning reports, a battalion level AAR, lots of random paperwork, tons of letters that he wrote home to my grandmother, and a few dozen pictures that he brought home with him. Quite a few of the pictures have names, dates, and locations on the backs, but a lot don't. I'm trying to piece together where he was and when, and so far I'm doing a decent job of it. I've been able to tell my grandmother a lot of details that she didn't know. At some point, if there's interest, I'd be glad to post some of his pictures and more details of his service. I'd LOVE to somehow get in contact with someone that knew him, or even someone familiar with his company. I'd also like some help trying to pinpoint the locations where some of his pictures were taken.

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Thanks! - Scott

 

Yes, he ended the war in the Magdeburg area. Spent quite a bit of time in Wurzbach - a lot of his pictures are from there.

He never went to any reunions. The first time he talked about his service time was in the 60's after his nephew was killed in Vietnam. He talked my grandmother's ear off from the time they left the funeral until the next morning. Then he didn't talk about it at all until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1998. He apparently had a lot of trouble dealing with what he had seen/done during the war. He was an alcoholic for most of his life.

 

You can get the 119th Infantry Regiment unit history: Unit Histories

That will give you a very good view of where he was from day to day. The Battalion unit histories are much harder to come by, but will be even more specific. If you haunt Ebay long enough and do enough google searches you'll eventually track down a 1st Battalion 119th, unit history and when you do, buy it.

 

Scott, you may also get some insight from this thread: http://www.ww2f.com/western-europe/58434-30th-infantry-division-old-hickory.html

 

Welcome, Scott. You seem to have gotten the attention of our 30th Division experts. I wish you well in your search and look forward to hearing more about your grandfather.

 

That was the first thread I read through when I joined. . Thanks!

 

Scott My father also was in 1st Battalion 119th C Company 30th division.He passed 6 years ago was 87 and never talked about
his time over there with us. I found most of the information I have after he passed. He was a Sergeant who was part of ammunition group and worked with engineers laying and planting mines. He received 5 Bronze Stars and should have received Purple Heart but never received it.1st Battalion received Battle Honors for Dec 17-21 in Battle of the Buldge. I have some pics of him and some of his group.you can contact me if you are still on this site.

 

Here are a few pics that we found after my dad passed!

 

Yes we have his combat infantry badge,and I have his first Bronze Star with Citation, my sister has CIB And oak leaf cluster medal. We have discharge papers. And we have his Distinguished Unit Citation 1st Battalion 19-21 Battle Of The Buldge, French Croixde Guerre Badge. He was Wounded by shrapnel but was patched up and sent back out, and he didn't stick around to receive medal. He never signed up for Veterans help or had anything to to with the service after discharge! He sold a couple Lugers he brought back plus we still have a German flag he brought back!!