In Memory of U.S. Army Private First Class
Andrew Leboldus
Onaka, South Dakota
Edmunds County
March 18, 1919 - September 19, 1943
Killed in Action in the Battle of Vella Lavella in the Pacific
Andrew Leboldus was the son of Andrew Leboldus and Marion (Keller) Leboldus. He was born on March 18, 1919, on a farm near Selz, North Dakota. His father died when he was 5 1/2 months old. His mother remarried when he was four years old. He moved near Onaka, South Dakota with his family. He lived in the area until he left for the service. He received his grade school education through the eighth grade in Madison Township. He continued his high school education at Roscoe, South Dakota. He graduated from Roscoe High School in 1937.
Andrew was inducted into the army at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on February 26, 1942. On March 3rd he arrived at Camp Walters, Texas where he received his basic training. He was a member of the 27th Infantry 25th Division. In March of 1942, Andrew was sent to Oakland, California for a short time. From there he was shipped to the Hawaiian Islands. Andrew never had a furlough, so when he left home, he never got to see his family again.
In a letter home to his brother and sister-in-law, Andrew stated that he had been fighting in the Southwest Pacific and that he had pulled through. He said that he wouldn't be able to write home, and he didn't have any news:
I'm glad to hear from you. I'm still O.K. and hope you're all the same. I won't be able to write much. I saw action again some where in the South Pacific and pulled through O.K. so don't worry.
Andrew was in action in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Sometime after the Guadalcanal Battle he went to New Georgia Islands where he fought on Vella Lavella Island. He came through that battle without any injuries. After the battle, American soldiers stayed behind. Little did they know that the Japanese also left snipers behind. One of the snipers crept up behind them and killed Andrew with a hand grenade. His friends later killed that same sniper.
A soldier by the name of Tony Dusel picked up Andrew's body. Dusel's hometown was Tolstoy, South Dakota, a neighboring town of Onaka. Dusel picked up two more bodies and then took them to the ship. There were no more soldiers buried on Vella Lavella Island.
Andrew's remains were originally interred in a temporary cemetery at Finschhlacfen, New Guinea. From there they moved the body to the United States Armed Forces Cemetery, Manila #2, located on the Philippine Islands. In February of 1949, his body was brought back to the United States. He was buried at St. John's Cemetery in Onaka, South Dakota Military services were held by the Leboldus-Deis Post #270.
Private Andrew Leboldus served our country bravely during WW II. He will be remembered and missed by his friends and family forever.
Angela Baer and Owen Mohr, 10th Grade, Edmunds Central High School, Roscoe, South Dakota, respectfully submitted this entry. Mr. Mike Leboldus, Roscoe, South Dakota, brother of Private Andrew Leboldus provided information for this entry.
