Leon P. Sporish
Graduation photo from The Parachute School
NAME: Leon P. Sporish
ASN: 35157349
PLACE OF BIRTH: ???, NJ
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 Jun 1917
DATES OF SERVICE: 20 Jun 1941 - 06 Jun 1946
UNIT ASSIGNED:
C Company 504th Parachute Battalion
F Company 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
C Company 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Purple Heart Medal with one oak leaf cluster, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and four campaign stars, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster, French 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
20 Jun 1941 - Enlisted at Trenton, NJ - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 32157349 | 32157349 |
| NAME | SPORISH#LEON#P########## | SPORISH#LEON#P########## |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | 22 | NEW JERSEY |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 013 | ESSEX |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 2280 | TRENTON NEW JERSEY |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 20 | 20 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 06 | 06 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 41 | 41 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | PVT# | Private |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | BI# | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| BRANCH: CODE | 00 | Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 0 | Undefined Code |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 22 | NEW JERSEY |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 17 | 17 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 3 | 3 years of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 773 | Semiskilled cranemen, derrickmen, hoistmen, and shovelmen |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 7 | Selectees (Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0472 | 0472 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 2.136 | 2.136 |
17 Nov 1941 - Pvt. Leon P. Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB The Parachute School Class #9 begins training at Fort Benning, GA
25 Dec 1941 - Pvt. Leon Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB attended unit Christmas Dinner
26 Jan 1942 - Pvt. Leon Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB The Parachute School Class #9 conducts first parachute jumps for qualification
00 Feb 1942 - Pvt. Leon P. Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB Hometown: Newark, NJ listed in unit album
07 Feb 1942 - Pvt. Leon P. Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB The Parachute School Class #9 conducts graduation and pinning ceremony
31 May 1942 - Pvt. Leon P. Sporish 35157349 C Co, 504th PB new identification issued
08 Nov 1942 - Pfc. Leon P. Sporish 35157349 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Hometown: Newark, NJ Participated in Operation TORCH (VILLAIN) the airborne invasion of Oran, North Africa on Plane: 9 Seat: 7 Combat Weight: 273 lbs.
15 Jul 1943 - Pfc. Leon P. Sporish 32157349 F Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR service from 07 Dec 1941 to 15 Jul 1943 GO8 Awarded Good Conduct Medal, 1yr Svc
14 Sep 1943 - Cpl. Leon P. Sporish 32157349 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III the Airborne Invasion of Avellino, Italy
16 Nov 1943 - Wounded In Action
16 Nov 1943 - Diagnosis: Wound, penetrating; Qualifying Term: Slight, or mild (code may also mean Pneumococcus (types 13 and 23); Location: Occipital region; Causative Agent: Shrapnel; Diagnosis: Wound(s), Penetrating; Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Other or Unspec to Blast, Fragments, Debris. Medical Treatment: Debridement with primary suture. Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty (Battle Casualty)
00 Nov 1943 - Type of Discharge: Duty (returned to)
01 Jan 1944 - Pfc. Leon P. Sporish 32157349 509th PIB GO # 1 10. Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a Purple Heart is awarded to LEON P. SPORISH, Private First Class, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, United States Army; for wounds received in action against an armed enemy, during the Fifth Army campaign in Italy, 16 November 1943.
22 Jan 1944 - Participated in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy
16 Mar 1944 - Wounded In Action
16 Mar 1944 - Diagnosis: First Location: Buttock and hip; Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments, Afoot or unspecified. Type of Injury: Casualty, battle. Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
00 Mar 1944 - Type of Discharge: Duty. Length of Service: 2 Year(s), 9, 10 OR 11 MONTHS Month(s)
01 Apr 1944 - Cpl. Leon P. Sporish 32157349 C Co 509th PIB Newark, NJ GO # 3 Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-45, dated 22 September 1943, the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster is awarded, in additon to the Purple Heart previously awarded to the following named individual for wounds received in action against the enemy: LEON P. SPORISH, 32157349, Cpl., Inf., C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, Italy, 16 March 1944. Entered service from Newark, New Jersey.
10 Apr 1944 - Cpl. Leon P. Sporish 32157349 C Co, 509th PIB GO 5 - The following named Officers and Enlisted Men of Companies indicated having fulfilled all requirements as set forth in Par #3. a&b, Section I, WD Circular #269, dated 27 October 1943, are hereby announced as Combat Infantrymen and are entitled to wear the badge as specified in WD Circular above.
06 Jun 1946 - Passed away, buried in NJ
Leon Sporish military identification
Leon Sporish at Camp Wheeler 05 Aug 1941
Leon Sporish and buddies at The Parachute School
Leon Sporish wearing the early T-4 Parachute
