Leo Joseph Oberbroekling was born on July 21, 1912, to John and Catherine Oberbroekling on a farm northwest of Geddes, South Dakota. The oldest of seven children, Leo , a devout Catholic, attended a rural grade school and then went to St. Ann’s Catholic High School in Geddes for one year. Leo then worked on the family farm until entering the service. His family said that Leo "was kind and considerate and caring with a heart of gold." They also remembered times that Leo had narrowly avoided tragedy, such as the time the horses had run away with him and when he was thrown by a bull.

His siblings recalled Leo’s translating into English on behalf of his little sister when she would become angry at school. Since the teacher didn’t understand German, Leo was said to have "toned down" his sister’s comments in the translation! Then there was the recollection that Leo and his father used to take the four younger children to school in the sled and once was caught in a snowstorm with one of his sisters.

On March 26, 1942, during another snowstorm, Leo went to Lake Andes, SD, to be inducted into the service. Next he was sent to Ft. Leavensworth, Kansas, and then Camp Barkley, Texas, from where he was sent home on furlough. After that Leo went on to Camp Grant, California, for several months, where he received the Good Conduct Medal. Later transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey, Leo came home on a final leave in January and left for overseas duty soon after.

Pfc. Oberbroekling was shipped to England, landing in April of 1944. Stationed in England until D-Day, Oberbroekling was part of the Invasion of France, where his duty was driving officers; Leo also was able to serve as a translator since he and his family had spoken German in their home. During his overseas service, Leo wrote home on August 10, 1944:

…Some places there are pretty good apples. One night a French man and women and kids brought me four eggs and butter. So had eggs for breakfast and supper. Some times we get close to a potatoe patch then we have potatoes…. it is good to have a change of food.  If you get cooked food for a couple of day, it don’t want to agree with a person…. them French sure are glad to see us. They give us cider and shower the jeeps with flowers when we go through the towns. The towns that didn’t get hit. Some towns there isn’t anything left….

On September 8, 1944, only months after arriving overseas, Pfc. Leo Oberbroekling was killed by a mortar shell, "which struck almost on top of him near Fontay, France." Instead of being notified at their house by a soldier, as was commonplace, Leo’s father was called and informed that he should go to town and pick up the telegram. He was 32 years old at the time of his death.

Leo’s remains were buried at Lorrain St. Avold near Moselle, France, in the largest of the European overseas military cemeteries. Leo was one of the first men to be killed in action from the Geddes area of South Dakota.

Leo Oberbroekling was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for "military merit and wounds received."

Army Private Leo Joseph Oberbroekling made a sacrifice for our country, so that the lives of other people would be better.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Joseph E. Cooch, 8^th Grade West, Spearfish Middle School. Spearfish, South Dakota, December 1, 2000. Information for this entry was provided by Mrs. Lucille Petrik, Mrs. Loretta Pavel, and Mr. Paul Oberbroekling, siblings of Army Private Leo Oberbroekling.