Lester J. Sletta

  • ASN:
    0-1325937
  • DATE OF BIRTH
    Apr 19, 1920
  • DATE OF DEATH
    Jun 21, 2005
FULL NAME:

Lester J. Sletta

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):

0-1325937

  • DATE OF BIRTH: Apr 19, 1920
  • DATE OF DEATH: Jun 21, 2005
RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):

La Salle, Watonwan County, Minnesota

DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
  • DATE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Jun 1942
  • PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
    Fort Benning, Georgia
ORGANIZATION:
  • MAIN UNIT:
    9th Infantry Regiment
  • SUBUNIT:
    Company A, 1st Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
  • RANK:
    First Lieutenant (1st Lt.)
  • POSITION IN UNIT:
    Platoon Leader
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:

✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945)

DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):

🎖Purple Heart, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge

SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:

1st Lieutenant Lester J. Sletta was born in in LaSalle, Minnesota on April 19, 1920. He was one of five brothers that were born to his parents Ole and Thora Sletta. Lester graduated St. James High School and was employed at Mankato by standard Oil co. He entered the service in June, 1942 and was commissioned in the Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia In January, 1943. The exact date of Lester's departure is unclear but in August he was sent overseas. Lester met his wife, Jeanne Virginia Mikkelson, while stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During that time Jeanne was living with a relative in Colorado Springs. They got married on 14 July, 1945 as soon as he was back in Minnesota following his hospital stay.

STATUS:
  • CATEGORY:
    Prisoner of War (POW)
  • DATE:
    Dec 18, 1944
  • LOCATION:
    Battle of Lausdell, Belgium
  • NOTES:
    Lt. Lester J. Sletta got wounded by friendly Artillery fire that got called in on their own position because German Infantry and armor had broken through their lines. A white phosphorus shell exploded near Lt. Sletta and burned his back and lower back. Lt. Sletta was injured and could not withdraw from his position in time. He got captured at Lausdell on the 18th of December, 1944.
FIND A GRAVE (LINK):
HONORED BY:

Arjan Messemaker, Lauren Sletta, Barry O'Shea

NARA - Display Full Records

File Unit: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
in the Series: World War II Army Enlistment Records, created 6/1/2002 - 9/30/2002, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946. - Record Group 64 (info)

Brief Scope: This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

Source: aad.archives.gov/aad/
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NARA RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS SOLDIER
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