Leo J. Cleveland was drafted in the Army on June 19, 1941 and trained in the infantry of the 3rd Armored Division.  In July 1942 the unit trained in the Mojave Desert and then went to Camp Pickett, Virginia, with final training at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.  He married Vera Schacht while in Pennsylvania.  He was sent to England and later landed on Omaha Beach but not on D-Day.  On June 19 he went into action and on the 20th he fought around St Lo.  His unit was cut off for two days.  He was wounded at Mortain in the left leg and evacuated to the United States.  He spent 18 months at Fitzsimmons Hospital at Denver, Colorado.  He was discharged on October 27, 1947.  He has worn a hip length brace ever since.  His unit of 187 men lost 104 to combat.  He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct and World War II Medals and several ribbons.