Leonard Pylka
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Leonard R. Pylka of Embarrass, Minnesota was inducted into the Army on March 25, 1942.
He was a Technician 4th Grade and an automotive parts clerk in the Western Pacific and at Kiska.
He was involved in the invasion landing at Kiska, Alaska, in August 1943, with Alaskan Scouts, 110th Combat Engineer Battalion. He left Kiska in September for Honolulu and transferred to the 452nd Engineer Depot Company.
He was involved in the invasion landing on Saipan in the Mariannas in June 1944. Also, B-29 bombers used Saipan as a base for bombing the Japanese home islands. He watched the U.S. fleet bombard Tinian Island. He left Saipan in November 1945.
He received the: Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal with two bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal and four overseas service bars.
He was discharged on Dec. 15, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 259.
