Tierra Blue, Joseph Galante, Sarean Khliang



Tierra Blue, Joseph Galante, Sarean Khliang

U.S. History 2nd period

Mr. Corona

March 24, 2003

The Story of a War World II Veteran

Defined in our dictionaries and taught by our history books, the devastation of war and its terror can only truly be told by those who witnessed and lived through it. Leo M. Schlocker, a courageous and brave man, shares his stories of courage, strength, and integrity during the harsh times of war. It is through his stories and life that history is told and lived. This is the story of a War World II Veteran.

In a time of fear and devastation, War World I had left many people in search for a better and hopeful life. To many this meant that they would leave their families, belongings, and their homeland. Both Morris and Dora Schlocker were faced with this decision of wither or not to leave their homeland, Russia in hope of a brighter future. They decided to immigrate to Germany where they were given their last name, Schlocker, a German last name. Soon after, they migrated to United States where they began a family. In 1925, Leo M. Schlocker was born in what is now known as Watts in Los Angeles, California. Both Leo and his four other brothers were taught the importance of the Jewish faith and religion from their parents. He attended Freemont High School where he decided that school was no longer what he wanted to do and with permission from his parents, Leo dropped out of school in search for a new life.

Leo then left for Texas in which he had applied for enrollment into the U.S. Navy. Unfortunately, Leo’s request into the Navy was rejected because he was colorblind. With few options left Leo continued to work for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. As war progressed on, Leo was called to join the United States Army. He completed his basic training at West Point and then moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia where he became a member of the 11th airborne division. Here he was trained how to jump. Each jump was 7 miles long and 5 jumps had to be completed to receive the first wing. Though Leo was nervous on his first jump he knew he had to over come it. Soon in 1943 Marty transferred to the 13th airborne division where his training would end. Leo and many young U.S. soldiers boarded the U.S.S Wakefield and headed for England where they would receive more practice.

After their long hours of training and preparation it was time for Leo and his fellow comrades to enter the war. In September 19, 1944, Leo and members of the airborne division had their first successful jump in Holland. They were then headquartered to Rhiems, France on December 24, 1944, where they had their first time off the airplane and served their Christmas dinner. They all knew that the disasters of war lied ahead of them and the fear of death was something that they would not think of that day and enjoy the food that had been given to them.

On the following day the division was sent to Monte, Germany where Leo would face the dangers and horrors of war. German tiger tanks roamed the ground killing and destroying everything in its path. They were now in attack. The attack was gruesome and harsh. Eighty percent of the airborne troops had been killed at the communication center in Belgium. This was then that Marty had witnessed the death of his second lieutenant.

“I took his pair of boots because you never knew when you would be in need of some.”

In what seemed could not get any worse, Leo and two of his comrades were captured by German soldiers. Being able to understand a little German, Leo knew what the Germans were saying. He held up three fingers, counting in German to three in which he told how many men were with him.

“I made eye contact with him which probably if I didn’t do they would have killed us.”

They were then sent to a German camp where Leo had disposed his pins of the Jewish faith in fear of the tortures of the Germans. To Leo, the camp was decent and the food was given in very small amounts but at the very least it was food. Leo and many of the other men were then put to work by digging trenches and working in the hospitals. Thousands and thousands of bodies were stacked by Leo and his comrades and to his surprise these bodies were not of American or French men but German soldiers.

Fortunately because Leo’s last name had been Schlocker, a German last name, they had not killed him. He was then sent to another camp where the German soldiers placed more captives. Traveling to the camp, Leo and many other men had to be cautious. Many American troops had bombed and shot at them through their voyage. Leo described a time when an American airplane had flown above them; using blankets and clothes, Leo and his comrades placed them in the letters of POW, to tell them that there were POW men and to hold their fire. As they reached the camp they were served with food. This camp had been one of the best camps that Leo and his comrades had been to. They were served with decent food and were given a shelter. One particular incident that Leo had remembered during his stay at the camp was on the day of Passover, a Jewish holiday. Leo and his close friends had snuck into a basement and prayed that the war would soon end and celebrated the holiday when the Jewish had received their freedom from slavery. “We never got caught and no one ever knew.”

On April 1945, Leo was liberated and was sent back home. He soon married his wife Rosemary and in December 25, 1945 Leo was discharged. Attending the University of Southern California, Leo received his degree in law and became apart of the Los Angeles Police department. As an officer Leo received two pensions. Today Leo is retired and happily living in his Newport Beach home.

Throughout his years of life Leo Schlocker has lived out a life of bravery and triumph. His courageous acts of serving the United States will always be remembered and honored. Through his stories and his life, Schlocker has taught history in a new vision.

“My advice for kids today is to work hard and get an education, education is one of the most valuable things to have.”

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