Individual Details
Leonard E. Gude
(December 4, 1920 - July 5, 1944)
Unit: 79TH INFANTRY DIVISION
Rank: STAFF SERGEANT
Received a Purple Heart
Died in The Battle of Normandy, WWII
Leonard was the first born son of Clem and Mary Gude, (the third of nine children) from the small community of St. Joseph, Florida.
Leonard was drafted in early 1942. He did his basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida, and was assigned to the 79th Infantry division. They trained at numerous bases throughout the United States before they shipped out to England in March of 1944.
The 79th went ashore on June 14th (D-Day + 8) on Utah Beach. They fought their way to Cherbourg,France and were instrumental in the capture of this key port. They then fought their way toward the city of St Lo.
Leonard was part of an anti-tank unit of the 313th regiment. On July 5, their unit came under heavy artillery fire near the town of La-Haye-du-Puits. Leonard was severely wounded and died in a field hospital that day.
He is buried with his comrades in the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.
Rank: STAFF SERGEANT
Received a Purple Heart
Died in The Battle of Normandy, WWII
Leonard was the first born son of Clem and Mary Gude, (the third of nine children) from the small community of St. Joseph, Florida.
Leonard was drafted in early 1942. He did his basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida, and was assigned to the 79th Infantry division. They trained at numerous bases throughout the United States before they shipped out to England in March of 1944.
The 79th went ashore on June 14th (D-Day + 8) on Utah Beach. They fought their way to Cherbourg,France and were instrumental in the capture of this key port. They then fought their way toward the city of St Lo.
Leonard was part of an anti-tank unit of the 313th regiment. On July 5, their unit came under heavy artillery fire near the town of La-Haye-du-Puits. Leonard was severely wounded and died in a field hospital that day.
He is buried with his comrades in the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.
Events
| Birth | December 4, 1920 | St Joseph, Pasco Co., FL | |||
| Death | July 5, 1944 | La Haye-du-Puits, France | |||
| Burial | Normandy American Cemetery in France | ||||
| Military | Enlistment 06/18/1942 |
Families
| Father | Clemens Gerhard Gude (1885 - 1958) |
| Mother | Mary Bichsel (1889 - 1979) |
| Sibling | Eda Mary Gude (1917 - 1991) |
| Sibling | Cecelia Frances Gude (1919 - 1999) |
| Sibling | Mildred Charlotte Gude (1922 - 2004) |
| Sibling | Florian C. Gude (1924 - 2016) |
| Sibling | Agnes Rose Gude (1926 - 2011) |
| Sibling | Sophie Emma Gude |
| Sibling | Francis "Frank" Clemens Gude |
| Sibling | Carl A. Gude |