WWII US Army Grouping – Lt Col Edwin J Leer – Bronze Star – Africa 1943 – Italy 1944 – 1945 Marseille France – Rare Original Archive

Description

Edwin Joseph Leer born August 10th 1907 in La Moure, North Dakota.

Enlisted in the US Army in 1923.

Reaching the Rank of Master Sergeant by 1939.

1942, he was an Officer Cadet and went to lead a MP Unit after his commissioning.

Even though it is not mentioned when he received the Nicaraguan Campaign Medal which was for the USMC. But he seen on the photos wearing it the ribbons.

WW2 Service 

Four Battle Stars

Rome, Arno, Southern France and Rhineland Germany.

His roles

1. 1941 – Supervised Secret Documents at Forth Army HQ in San Francisco
2. 1943 – Philipville, Constantine – Area in Algeria North Africa. Maintained 31 Detachments of MPs-Drivers-etc at the Port of Bone and Philipville. 83 Liberty Ships discharging and taking on cargo. Looked after the Supply and Oil Dumps, and Air Field.
3. 1944 – Port Security at Ajaccio, Port au Vecchio, Bastia, Corsica on the day of arrival. Setting up duties on the port thereafter.
4. 1945 – Provost Marshals Office, Marseille France, Operations Officer.
5. 1946 – Provost Marshall of Allied Mission Observing the Greek Elections.
6. 1947 – 49 – Provost Marshall  and Intelligence Officer various Positions in the USA.
7. 1949 – 1950 – Camp Zama, Japan 10th Regional Area Occupying Forces.

He met his wife to be in North Africa, a French Lady called Michelle Charlotte, she was working there as a member of the French Resistance. Her items are all so seen the photos and are included in the sale.

Leer married and took his War Bride to the USA, in fact he was sent to Observe the Greek Elections and Michelle left for the US. They would meet in the USA.

Sadly Leer died in a Car Accident in 1955.

Newspaper Article about Major Leer overseeing the Greek Elections. 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-escanaba-daily-press-17aug47french/135071356/

Medals

1. 1926 – 1930 – Second Nicaraguan Campaign
2. Expedition Marine Corps Medal
3. Yangtze Service Medal
4. China Service Medal
5. French Cross of War
6. Foreign Service Medal with One Star
7. Asian Pacific Campaign Medal
8. European African Medal
9. US WW2 Commemoration Medal
10. US Japan Occupation Medal
11. Bronze Star
12. Good Conduct Medal
13. Commendation Medal
14. Mediterranean Campaign Medal
15. Armed Forces Reserve
16. Expert Rifleman
17. Occupation of Greece 1945

Final Comments

An astoundingly long military career, Leer raised the ranks from a Private right up to a Lt-Colonel. Leers wartime marriage to a lady he met in North Africa who was a member of the Resistance could be researched further. Leers souvenirs make for a great amount of bank notes, occupation money, and some small items that he seemed to have found along the way. A great grouping, and really not easy to find such groupings anymore.