This website was created to honor Leslie Mlnarik for his service to our country, as part of the Veterans Memory Park in Dodge, NE.

Leslie was called to acitive duty via the draft in World War II in July of 1942.  His training was in San Diego, CA.  In November he was sent to Seward, Alaska. Leslie said he lived underground in Seward.  His job was airplane patrol duty. He was the trigger man on a 50 caliber machine gun.  He also spent time unloading liberty ships.  He returned to the main states in March of 1944.  He was then stationed in Arizona and drove cargo trucks and trained in welding.  He was transferred to New Jersey and then on to Germany in March of 1945.  His job there was to weld the trucks and tanks that needed repair.  

They lived in old barracks and shops while stationed there.  On V-J day Leslie was on a ship from Marsaeilles to Japan.  He states, "I was on the water the day they declared it was over and they re-directed us back to the US instead!"  

He was sent to Fort Leavenworth, KS and discharged on November 6, 1945. Leslie was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, European Theatre of Operation Ribbon, Two battle stars, and the Victory Ribbon.