Larson, Leland - 1915-1949 (Died 1945)

LARSON, PEROZZI

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/27/2010 at 19:43:20

Last rites for T/Sgt. Leland A. Larson, who died on Okinawa May 6, 1946, will be held at the Barnard Funeral home at 2 o'clock this afternoon and at Grace Hill cemetery. Rev. H. E. Sieving of Trinity Lutheran church will officiate with the American Legion in charge of graveside rites.

Sgt. Larson was wounded May 5, 1945, and died the following day. At the time of his death word was sent to his widow, who lived at Vina, Calif.

Sgt. Larson enlisted in January 1941, and served in the Seventh Infantry Division in the South Pacific. He served overseas a little more than two years. He was in the battle of Attu and was awarded the bronze star for heroic achievement in that engagement. The battle of Attu lasted three weeks.

He took part in the invasion of Leyte and for bravery there he was awarded the Silver Star. From Leyte he went to Okinawa where he was fatally wounded. He also had the distinguished unit citation badge, the American defense service medal, the good conduct medal, the Asiatic-Pacific theatre ribbon with battle stars and the combat infantry man's badge.

Leland Larson, eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Martin Larson, was born in Clay County, S.D., March 14, 1915. He came to Hawarden with his parents in 1921 and attended the Hawarden schools. In 1936 he went to Vina, Calif., where he was employed on a dairy farm until he enlisted. He was married to Velma Perozzi, of Vina, Calif., December 24, 1941.

He is survived by his mother; three brothers, who at the time of his death were all in the service. They are Marvin and Leslie, of Hawarden, and Reuben of Sunnyvale, Calif., and three sisters, Mrs. Charles Murphy of San Francisco, Mrs. Mark Rounds of Culver City, Calif., and Mrs. Jimmy Cain of Hawarden.

Source: Hawarden Independent, May 12, 1949