Army PFC Leonard Elkins Adams, killed in World War II, will finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Born January 3, 1920, Leonard was the only child blassed to the union of Ora Leonard and Zina (nee Elkins) Adams.
Following graduation, Leonard enlisted in United States Army and was with the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division when they faced fierce Nazi forces in the Alsace region of north-eastern France. Surviving the 9-day Battle of Reipertswiller, PFC Adams succumbed to his wounds one day later. He was 25 years old.
Five companies of the 45th Division's 157 regiment managed to penetrate German defensive positions and were cut off by the elite 6th SS Mountain Division. After three days, with food running low and small arms growing short, the remaining soldiers formed a small defensive perimeter, placing the wounded in foxholes so they could be cared for by those still fighting. By the 20th the end was near and with only 125 a able-bodied soldiers left, they attempted to infiltrate out. No one wanted to surrender to the SS after the news of the Malmedy Massacre in the Ardennes had spread, but in the end only two men reached Allied lines. Casualties for the month were 32 KIA, 24 WIA, 472 MIA and 70 known prisoners.
Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area around Reipertswiller, finding 37 unidentified sets of American remains, but it was unable to identify any of them as Adams. He was declared non-recoverable on May 4, 1951.
For her son's service and sacrifice, Mrs Adams accepted his Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and his Purple Heart; however, his body was never recovered and returned to her for burial.
Mrs Adams had a memorial marker placed at Bono Cemetery, in Bono, Indiana, in hopes that some day Leonard would be found and returned home (72027884).
On May 30, 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Adams to put them in contact with the Army's Past Conflicts Repatriation Branch. This was meant to (re)establish lines of communication with Leonard's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, and offer Ms Elkins the opportunity to help coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for her cousin's identification.
DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research into Soldiers missing from combat around Reipertswiller, and found that Unknown X-6372 Neuville, buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, could be associated with Adams. X-6372 was disinterred in July 2021 and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.
To identify Adams' remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
Leonard was finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Army Private First Class Leonard Elkins Adams is memorialized within the Epinal American Cemetery in France. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Adams' name shall remain permanently inscribed among the "Tablets of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
SOURCE
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Born January 3, 1920, Leonard was the only child blassed to the union of Ora Leonard and Zina (nee Elkins) Adams.
Following graduation, Leonard enlisted in United States Army and was with the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division when they faced fierce Nazi forces in the Alsace region of north-eastern France. Surviving the 9-day Battle of Reipertswiller, PFC Adams succumbed to his wounds one day later. He was 25 years old.
Five companies of the 45th Division's 157 regiment managed to penetrate German defensive positions and were cut off by the elite 6th SS Mountain Division. After three days, with food running low and small arms growing short, the remaining soldiers formed a small defensive perimeter, placing the wounded in foxholes so they could be cared for by those still fighting. By the 20th the end was near and with only 125 a able-bodied soldiers left, they attempted to infiltrate out. No one wanted to surrender to the SS after the news of the Malmedy Massacre in the Ardennes had spread, but in the end only two men reached Allied lines. Casualties for the month were 32 KIA, 24 WIA, 472 MIA and 70 known prisoners.
Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area around Reipertswiller, finding 37 unidentified sets of American remains, but it was unable to identify any of them as Adams. He was declared non-recoverable on May 4, 1951.
For her son's service and sacrifice, Mrs Adams accepted his Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and his Purple Heart; however, his body was never recovered and returned to her for burial.
Mrs Adams had a memorial marker placed at Bono Cemetery, in Bono, Indiana, in hopes that some day Leonard would be found and returned home (72027884).
On May 30, 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Adams to put them in contact with the Army's Past Conflicts Repatriation Branch. This was meant to (re)establish lines of communication with Leonard's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, and offer Ms Elkins the opportunity to help coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for her cousin's identification.
DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research into Soldiers missing from combat around Reipertswiller, and found that Unknown X-6372 Neuville, buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, could be associated with Adams. X-6372 was disinterred in July 2021 and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.
To identify Adams' remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
Leonard was finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Army Private First Class Leonard Elkins Adams is memorialized within the Epinal American Cemetery in France. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Adams' name shall remain permanently inscribed among the "Tablets of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
SOURCE
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Army PFC Leonard Elkins Adams, killed in World War II, will finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Born January 3, 1920, Leonard was the only child blassed to the union of Ora Leonard and Zina (nee Elkins) Adams.
Following graduation, Leonard enlisted in United States Army and was with the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division when they faced fierce Nazi forces in the Alsace region of north-eastern France. Surviving the 9-day Battle of Reipertswiller, PFC Adams succumbed to his wounds one day later. He was 25 years old.
Five companies of the 45th Division's 157 regiment managed to penetrate German defensive positions and were cut off by the elite 6th SS Mountain Division. After three days, with food running low and small arms growing short, the remaining soldiers formed a small defensive perimeter, placing the wounded in foxholes so they could be cared for by those still fighting. By the 20th the end was near and with only 125 a able-bodied soldiers left, they attempted to infiltrate out. No one wanted to surrender to the SS after the news of the Malmedy Massacre in the Ardennes had spread, but in the end only two men reached Allied lines. Casualties for the month were 32 KIA, 24 WIA, 472 MIA and 70 known prisoners.
Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area around Reipertswiller, finding 37 unidentified sets of American remains, but it was unable to identify any of them as Adams. He was declared non-recoverable on May 4, 1951.
For her son's service and sacrifice, Mrs Adams accepted his Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and his Purple Heart; however, his body was never recovered and returned to her for burial.
Mrs Adams had a memorial marker placed at Bono Cemetery, in Bono, Indiana, in hopes that some day Leonard would be found and returned home (72027884).
On May 30, 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Adams to put them in contact with the Army's Past Conflicts Repatriation Branch. This was meant to (re)establish lines of communication with Leonard's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, and offer Ms Elkins the opportunity to help coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for her cousin's identification.
DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research into Soldiers missing from combat around Reipertswiller, and found that Unknown X-6372 Neuville, buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, could be associated with Adams. X-6372 was disinterred in July 2021 and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.
To identify Adams' remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
Leonard was finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Army Private First Class Leonard Elkins Adams is memorialized within the Epinal American Cemetery in France. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Adams' name shall remain permanently inscribed among the "Tablets of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
SOURCE
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Born January 3, 1920, Leonard was the only child blassed to the union of Ora Leonard and Zina (nee Elkins) Adams.
Following graduation, Leonard enlisted in United States Army and was with the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division when they faced fierce Nazi forces in the Alsace region of north-eastern France. Surviving the 9-day Battle of Reipertswiller, PFC Adams succumbed to his wounds one day later. He was 25 years old.
Five companies of the 45th Division's 157 regiment managed to penetrate German defensive positions and were cut off by the elite 6th SS Mountain Division. After three days, with food running low and small arms growing short, the remaining soldiers formed a small defensive perimeter, placing the wounded in foxholes so they could be cared for by those still fighting. By the 20th the end was near and with only 125 a able-bodied soldiers left, they attempted to infiltrate out. No one wanted to surrender to the SS after the news of the Malmedy Massacre in the Ardennes had spread, but in the end only two men reached Allied lines. Casualties for the month were 32 KIA, 24 WIA, 472 MIA and 70 known prisoners.
Beginning in 1946, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC), the organization that searched for and recovered fallen American personnel in the European Theater, searched the area around Reipertswiller, finding 37 unidentified sets of American remains, but it was unable to identify any of them as Adams. He was declared non-recoverable on May 4, 1951.
For her son's service and sacrifice, Mrs Adams accepted his Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and his Purple Heart; however, his body was never recovered and returned to her for burial.
Mrs Adams had a memorial marker placed at Bono Cemetery, in Bono, Indiana, in hopes that some day Leonard would be found and returned home (72027884).
On May 30, 2015, Jennifer Morrison, an independent volunteer forensic genealogist, found the family of PFC Adams to put them in contact with the Army's Past Conflicts Repatriation Branch. This was meant to (re)establish lines of communication with Leonard's family regarding the ongoing recovery and repatriation efforts, and offer Ms Elkins the opportunity to help coordinate a Family Reference DNA Sample, should it be necessary for her cousin's identification.
DPAA historians have been conducting on-going research into Soldiers missing from combat around Reipertswiller, and found that Unknown X-6372 Neuville, buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, could be associated with Adams. X-6372 was disinterred in July 2021 and transferred to the DPAA Laboratory for analysis.
To identify Adams' remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.
Leonard was finally be returned to his family and, on June 23, 2023, laid to rest - in American soil - with full military honors (254277433).
Army Private First Class Leonard Elkins Adams is memorialized within the Epinal American Cemetery in France. Although he has now been recovered and identified, PFC Adams' name shall remain permanently inscribed among the "Tablets of the Missing". A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
SOURCE
Jennifer Morrison, independent volunteer forensic genealogist
Inscription
ADAMS LEONARD E
PFC - 157 INF - 45 DIV - INDIANA
Gravesite Details
Leonard's rosette signifies that he has finally been found.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
