103rd Cactus Division

 LES B. KLIE

ENLISTED IN OCTOBER, 1943 FROM CHICAGO, IL. BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP WOLTERS. JOINED D-COMPANY, 409TH REGIMENT, 103D DIVISION. SERVED IN RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE WITH 1ST PLATOON OF HEAVY WEAPONS MACHINE GUNNERS. ONE OF SIX THAT AVOIDED CAPTURE AT SELESTAT. CONTINUED TO SERVE IN ARMY OF OCCUPATION. DISCHARGED IN MAY OF 1946.
BRONZE STAR ETO VICTORY OCCUPATION GOOD CONDUCT
Combat Infantry Badge

LES HAD A NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS DURING HIS TIME IN THE ETO. LES WAS PART OF THE 1ST PLATOON THAT WAS TRAPPED IN ONE OF THE HOUSES IN SELESTAT ON DECEMBER 2ND, 1944. THERE MACHINE GUN WAS DESTROYED BY TANK FIRE, BUT THE SAME TANK FIRE HAD BLOWN A BIG HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE THEY WERE IN. LES AND THREE OTHERS SCRAMBLED FOR THE RIVER AND SAFETY WHILE TWO OTHERS THAT WERE ONLY SECONDS BEHIND THEM WERE CAPTURED. LES SAID THAT HE COULD HEAR GERMAN VOICES AS HE WAS ESCAPING.

ANOTHER INSTANCE WAS ON MARCH 22ND, 1945. HE AND 3 OTHER D-COMPANY GIs (JACK DURRANCE, DOUG MERRILL AND AL SODMAN) WERE SETTING UP THEIR MACHINE GUN FOR SUPPORTING FIRE OF THE RIFLE COMPANY THAT WAS PREPARING TO ASSAULT THE SIEGFRIED LINE NEAR REISDORF, GERMANY. WITHOUT DETECTION, A MORTAR SHELL LANDED IN THE MIDST OF THE 4 MACHINE GUNNERS. DURRANCE, MERRILL AND SODMAN WERE ALL WOUNDED BY SHRAPNEL WHILE LES WAS UNTOUCHED.
Doug Merrill & Les Klie.
 
Les with Jack Niklas in 
Innsbruck, Austria.
Jack was wounded a few days 
later on May 5th.
Les Klie Les, in the Alps with his new CIB.
 Parade Rest' for Les and 
buddy Al Ayers
  Niklas, Bailey, Klie