LEONARD R. BUCKALEW

   Leonard R. Buckalew, 81, of Pedricktown died Wednesday in The emorial Hospital of Salem Country, Mannington Township.
   Born in Penns Grove, son of the late George and Luetta Horner Buckalew, he was a life-long area resident.
   Mr. Buckalew, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, served with the 82nd Airborne in Europe.  He was awarded two Purple Hearts and participated in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge.
   He was a fireman at the Delaware Ordinance Depot in Pedricktown for 20 years and later worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
   Hew had also worked as a security guard at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, Dell.
   Mr. Buckalew and his late wife operated a produce stand at Fenton's Corner in Pennsville for many years.
  Surviving are two sons, Roy C. of Penns Grove and Leonard R., Jr. of Pennsville; two daughters, Donna L. Strickland of Penns Grove and Lonna L. Hill of Pennsville; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
   He was predeceased by his wife. the former Jeanette Johnson, earlier this month, two brothers, Charles Denny and George Dordy; and two sisters, Helen Smith and Alma Holmes.
   Services are 11 a.m. Saturday in Ashcroft Funeral Home, 47 State St., Penns Grove, where friends may call after 10 a.m. 
   Burial will be in East View cemetery, Salem.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Salem County, 390N. Broadway, Pennsville, NJ 08070.

 

Grave markers for Leonard R. Buckalew  in East View Cemetery, Salem (Salem County), New Jersey.

Leonard enlisted in Camden, NJ on October 24,1942. He volunteered for parachutist duty and was immediately sent to Camp Blanding, FL where the 508th had been activated just four days earlier.

Pvt Buckalew made the combat jump into France as a member of Regimental Headquarters company,  He was wounded on July 3,1944 after nearly a month in combat.

When he was fit for service again he was transferred to Company G.

On December 18, 1945 the 508th was sent into Belgium for what became known as the Battle of The Bulge.  Leonard was wounded there on December 27, 1944.