Lesniewski, Joseph Anthony.

Lesniewski, Anthony Joseph, born on 29-08-1920, in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, USA, the son of the late Joseph and Rose, born Ciechacki Lesniewski. Joseph had three sisters and one brother, Phyllis Lesnieski Kuklinski (1914–2016), Sophie Lesniewski Wienczkowski (1916–1962), Stanley John Lesnieski (1918–1993) and Florence Lesnieski Forish (1923–2019). He was married in 1984 with Phyllis Marion, born Schindley Lesniewski.

Joseph attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School, where he learned to speak the Polish language fluently. After graduating from grade school, he attended Erie Technical High School, from which he graduated in 1940. Joseph spent one year in the Civilian Conservation Crops and went on to work at General Electric after completing his service in the C.C.C. He was a tool & die maker at G.E. until he volunteered for the military in 1942. His military career began with the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. He attended school at Chanute Field, Illinois where they taught him sheet metal work for repairs on airplanes. From there he went to Detroit, Michigan to yet another school at U.S. Rubber Co. to learn the process of repairing self-sealing fuel tanks. Upon completion of this course, he was transferred to Hunter Field in Savannah, Georgia. It was at this point he volunteered for the Paratroops. He received his wings after eight weeks of training and completion of his required jumps. Joseph had more training at Camp Mackall, N.C. From there he was sent to Helen’s Bay, Northern Ireland, where he was interviewed by a Polish General and tested on his ability to speak Polish. Joseph was then told he was a member of the OSS, Office of Strategic Services It was after this he was sent to the 101st Airborne Division; and became one of the original Band of Brothers. 506 Para Regiment. (He was portrayed in the HBO miniseries by actor Simon Schatzberger.)

Joseph headed to Europe with the 514st PIR and was stationed in Northern Ireland. As he was fluent in Polish he was chosen to be part of specialized training in London with the Office of Strategic Services and the Polish Army for a top secret mission. The mission was cancelled however, & Joe returned to NI. He was then given the choice of which unit he would like to join. He’d heard good things about the 506th Para Infantry Regiment so he chose them. Within a few days he was assigned to Easy Compagny.

Joe parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and fought with Easy through Normandy for D-Day, the Netherlands for Operation Market Garden and Bastogne for the very cold Operation, the Battle of the Bulge.(where he had to wear burlap sacks over his feet as he had given his boots in for repair before the 101st was sent there), Germany, and on to the end of the war to Hitler’s Berghof.

Jim Alley   credits Joe with saving his life after he warned of an incoming German grenade while on a night patrol on “The Island”, which gave Alley enough time to turn away from receiving a frontal blast.

Joe was wounded in the legs during the fighting in Foy on 13-01-1945, and developed an infection which saw him sent to hospital. Captain Roland Speirs, Easy’s C.O, mistakenly sent a letter to his parents saying Joe had been killed in action, but his sister was able to intercept the letter. Joe was able to write home from the hospital and let his family know he was okay. Joe was awarded 2 Purple Hearts & a Bronze Star during his service.

Death and burial ground of Lesniewski, Joseph Anthony.

Joseph was invited by U.S. Senator John Kerry to accompany him at the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was proud to be a part of the dedication as well as serving his country proudly. Upon his return to Erie he went back to work at G.E. for a few years, and then went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in 1946. Joseph  retired from the Postal Service in 1983. John was a member of St. Stanislaus R.C. Church, a member of American Legion Carl Neff Post #571, and the Moniuszko Club. Joseph Lesniewski died Wednesday, 23-05-2012, age 91, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Joseph is buried at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, VS, Section 11, Lot 482, Grave 1.

He was survived by his wife of 38 years, Phyllis Schindley Lesniewski; four daughters, Patty Elmi of Teapack, N.J., Janet Fowler (Bill), Elaine Winslow, and Jeanne Vollentine (Ken) all of Erie; two sons, Joe Lesniewski and John Lesniewski (Melissa) all of Erie; two sisters, Phyllis Kiklinski and Florence Forish both of Erie; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Stanley Lesniewski; one sister, Sophie Wienczkowski, and a grandson, Jeremy G. Fowler.

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