"Sgt. Paul Leeking, twenty-one, son of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Leeking, Kissel Hill, Lititz R3, was killed in action in Belgium, on January 10, the War Department notified his parents.

He had been seriously wounded in action in Holland, September 22 and was confined to a hospital in England for some time.

Sgt. Leeking entered the service Dec. 12, 1942, and trained at Camp Toccoa, Ga., Fort Benning, Ga.; and Camp Mackall, N.C. before going overseas in January, 1944. He is a graduate of the Warwick Township High School, Rothsville, class of 1941, and worked in a Lititz garage before entering the service."

[Carter Calls, Warwick Township (Rothsville) High School newspaper, February 28, 1945]

Grave marker for Sgt Paul B, Leeking at Plot F Row 13 Grave 71 in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium.

Paul enlisted in the Army at Harrisburg, PA on 12 December 1943 and volunteered for parachutist duty.

Pvt Leeking was assigned to Hq Co, 2nd Battalion, 508th  on 7Sept 1943 per SO 5 Hq 2nd Army Umpire School, Camp Forrest, TN.

He remained with the 508th the Tennessee Maneuvers had been completed and then returned to his parent organization, the 501st PIR.

He saw action in Normandy and was wounded in action on 22 September 1944 in Holland.  He was sent to England for recuperation.  After returning to duty he was again in combat in Belgium where he was killed on January 10 during "mopping up" operations following  the Battle of the Bulge. according to a family report, "Paul's unit was cleaning out a bunker of German soldiers who were told to drop their weapons and come out with their hands up. The last German out still had his gun and shot Paul in the forehead."

His military decorations include the Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.