Date of birth:

July 1920 (New York City/New York, United States)

Date of death:

November 4th, 2011

Nationality:

American

Leon John Wimbley was born in New York City in July 1920. In 1937, he joined the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corps), and worked in Oregon and Washington.

he enlisted U.S. Army in 1939 and was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone with an artillery unit until 1942. After returning to the States he was assigned to the 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division for service in Europe. He fought in Normandy and Northern France. During the German attack in the Ardennes he was hospitalized in Bastogne and was assigned to duty with the 101st Airborne Division.

After World War II he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he met and later married Ann Therese Samsel. Soon after, he was sent off to fight in the Korean War. While he remained in the Army, they had four children and the family moved to Germany, Texas, Colorado and finally Pacific Grove, California. He retired from the Army in 1960 with the rank of Master Sergeant.

After his retirement form the service he became Correctional Officer for the State of California at Soledad Prison and later at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. He retired in 1980.

Leon Wimbley married again in 1980 and moved with his second wife, Helyn Allison, to Arroyo Grande. He passed away on November 4th, 2011.

For his postwar service he also received the Korea Service Medal with two campaign stars and the United Nations Service Medal.

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