Graafs KazemattenMuseum

Cpl Leon Andy Kilgore

The Corporal's full name was Leon Andy Kilgore. He was originally from Red Oak, Iowa in the USA (he was an only child who enlisted at 17 yrs old and was not quite 21 yrs old when he came home from Berlin, Germany to march in The Victory Parade in New York City, NY coming home on the Queen Mary in January 1946). After living his life with his wife and 6 children the Cpl past away march 1st 1985 at the age of 59.
Cpl Kilgore's oldest son ended up serving with the 3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne in the Santa Domingo Uprising & then served in Vietnam in the early 1960's. Like Father Like Son!

Anzio Campaign, 1944. HMS LCI-273 sunk at Anzio, March 28, 1944, soon after she was hit by a German air attack. Note ship's hull broken in half, damage to pier alongside, life raft floating amid debris and pillbox at the end of the pier. Photographed by Leibowitz

By the words of the Corporal's Daughter, Lynette Kilgore-Strohbehn when we asked her about her Dad and told her we would be honored to have Cpl Kilgore on our website as one of The Few:

".. My Dad Andy was so proud of being a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne so I know how you feel... this keeps daughter's like me & Susan Swartz who were so proud of our Dad's braveness & service to be kept alive for future generations! Least we NEVER forget and we appreciate honorable citizens like you who appreciated what our Dad's contributions were to the war and are keeping it alive oversea's for the citizens our Dad's fought for along with American families!.. "

A big thank you to Lynette who was kind enough to help us with all the pictures and stories.

"...My Dad official name is Cpl Leon A. Kilgore (he went by Andy) he was born in Griswold, Iowa March 26, 1925 he married my Mom Laura Chandler on August 27, 1943. He enlisted & was inducted on June 7, 1943 at Ft Crook, Nebraska. He went thrue basic training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama before going to Paratrooper School at Ft Benning, Georgia.

He was a rifleman 745, he carried a machine gun in France, Belgium. Battles were the Rhineland, Central Europe.
Foreign service 11 months 11 days January 23, 1945 to December 29, 1945.

Awarded 2 Bronze stars for above campaigns per GO 33 & 45 1945. Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart. Entitled to wear American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, 1 Overseas Bar and Victory Ribbon, he could also wear the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon.

Left for the United States from Berlin, Germany on December 29, 1945 on the Queen Mary transport to New York City, NY arrived on January 3, 1946 and marched in The Victory Parade before dismissed from the service at Ft Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.."