FORMER SGT. L. J. BESCH DIES
Ex-Trinity High Pupil Expires in Hospital
A former first sergeant, Leonard J. Besch, 29, died Tuesday in a veteran’s hospital at Excelsior Springs, Mo., following a long illness.
The Sioux Cityan entered the service October 1, 1936, and first served at Fort Lewis, Wash., with Battery A., Ninth field artillery. A short time before his division prepared for going overseas, the young man became ill. He received an honorable discharge in 1943.
He was born December 29, 1915, in Fullerton, Neb. He attended Cathedral grade school and Trinity high school.
Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Besch, 2620 Terminal drive: four brothers, S. Sgt. Lawrence M. Besch, with an ordnance unit in the South Pacific; Herman and Benedict, both of Sioux City, and Pvt. Clarence M. Besch with the Marines in an airwing division in the South Pacific; five sisters, Anna, Marcella, Veronica and Dorothy, and Mrs. William Rossnar, all of Sioux City.
The body was scheduled to arrive today and will be taken to the Larkin funeral home.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, February 27, 1945 (photo included)
Leonard Jacob Besch was born Dec. 29, 1915 to John and Rose Besch. He died Feb. 28, 1945 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.
1st Sgt. Besch served in World War II with the U.S. Army 362nd Field Artillery Battalion.
Source: ancestry.com
