Reported Dead in Aleutians
Pvt. Leonard Pratt, son of Mrs. Verna Pratt of Crescent and Clair Pratt, now employed with a civilian construction company in the Aleutian islands, has been reported killed in action, according to word received by his mother.
In the infantry since November, 1942, Pvt. Pratt went to England sometime in May, 1944 and had been there until D-Day. He was reported killed in France on July 10.
Besides his parents, Pvt. Pratt is also survived by two brothers, Pvt. Lloyd Pratt, serving with the army engineers in Louisiana, and Howard Pratt at home, and two sisters, Elaine and Eloyce Pratt at home.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Tuesday, August 01, 1944, Page 3
Return Bodies of 2 County Soldiers
Wells, Pratt Both Killed in France
Bodies of two Pottawattamie county soldiers, Pfc. Lester Wells of Route 3, Council Bluffs, and Pvt. Leonard Pratt of Crescent, both killed in action in France in July, 1944, are being returned to the United States aboard the army transport Greenville Victory. Remains of 3,734 Americans, including 51 Iowans, are being returned for burial.
[NOTE: Portions of this article regarding Pfc. Lester Wells has been omitted but appears on his individual webpage within this site.]
Pvt. Pratt 24, son of Mrs. Vera Pratt of Council Bluffs and Clair Pratt of Crescent, entered the army in November, 1942. He worked for the Union Pacific railroad in Council Bluffs prior to army induction. Surviving are his parents, two brothers, Howard and Lloyd, and two sisters Elaine and Eloyce. Woodring funeral home will be in charge of his service.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Sunday, June 27, 1948, Page 12
Obituaries
Pfc. Leonard Pratt
The body of Pfc. Leonard Pratt, 23, Crescent, killed in action in the Normandy Invasion, July 10, 1944, will arrive in Council Bluffs Thursday afternoon and be taken to Woodring funeral home.
Surviving are his father, Clair Pratt of Crescent; his mother, Mrs. Vera Pratt of Council Bluffs; two brothers, Floyd and Howard; two sisters, Elaine and Eloice Pratt, all of Council Bluffs.
Funeral will be Friday at 2 p. m. at Crescent Latter Day Saints church, Elder M. A. Smith officiating. Rainbow post No. 2 of the American Legion will conduct military rites at the grave in Crescent township cemetery.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Tuesday, July 13, 1948, Page 6
