Leslie E. Maki
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Leslie Ernest Maki of Aurora was inducted into the Army on Oct. 28, 1942.
He was a Technician 5th Grade involved with demolitions for the 11th Armored Division, 56th Engineer Battalion, Third Army in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.
He helped liberate Mauthausen concentration camp in Linz, Austria. He was later transferred to a construction battalion to remodel Gen. Mark Clark's headquarters in Vienna and was returned to the United States on Dec. 24, 1945.
Mr. Maki was awarded the: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged on Dec. 31, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wis.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 186.
