Leo D. Ballegeer

Technical Sergeant Leo Deon Ballegeer, born 9 Jun 1919 in Omaha, NE, was the only child of Camiel and Zulma (Bulcaen) Ballegeer of Omaha.
In the 1930 census 10-year-old Leo is living with his parents at 3620 V street in Omaha. His father is a carpenter.In the 1939 Omaha city directory 19-year-old Leo is living with his parents at 3620 V street. His father is a carpenter. Leo is listed as a student.In the 1940 census 20-year-old Leo is still living with his parents at 3620 V street in Omaha. His father is a carpenter. Leo is an apprentice carpenter. Leo registered for the draft 16 Oct 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was employed by Peter Keiwit, a contractor (https://kiewit.com/markets/building). He was 5’10” and weighed 172 lbs with hazel eyes and brown hair. His next of kin was his father, Camiel Ballegeer.
Leo married Elizabeth Ann Tresnak. Elizabeth graduated from Omaha South High School. She left Omaha at 22 and moved to California to marry Leo Ballegeer, who was stationed at Camp Roberts. Leo was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium in 1944. A daughter, Nancy Lee, was born to this union. Leo enlisted in the army 3 Jun 1941 in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was assigned to the 109th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. The most noteworthy of the 109th Infantry's achievements during World War II came while the Regiment was resting in the Ardennes sector — considered a quiet sector early in December 1944. It was then that von Rundstedt launched his vicious, well planned Battle of the Bulge. The unsuspecting 109th Infantry was hit by an entire Volks Grenadier Guard Division as well as elements of a panzer division, parachute division and other crack German units. Although suffering great losses, (so great were the losses that the Division became known as the "Bloody Bucket Division" by the Germans who saw so many of our wounded troops wearing the red Keystone patch) in three days of bitter fighting, the 109th Infantry completely destroyed the 352d Yolks Grenadiers, at the same time holding its own tactical unity. The 109th had blocked von Rundstedt in the North and doomed the German offensive in the Ardennes. When the tide of battle turned on Christmas Eve, the battle-weary 109th soldiers attacked, threw the enemy across the Sure River, and retook several towns on the original front. The NARA WWII casualty listing by state and county show Ballegeer, Leo D, TSgt from McLean County, North Dakota, as killed in action 21 Dec 1944. McLean county is in central North Dakota. There are no other references to North Dakota but he must have lived there for a short period of time around when he enlisted. Since he enlisted before the war, it could have been a due to a re-enlistment while in North Dakota. He is buried in Plot E, Row 15; Grave 1, in Luxembourg, Germany. In the 1945 Omaha city directory Mrs. Eliz A Ballegeer is listed at 2454 S 15TH St. Elizabeth remarried Robert Winton Slama 22 Dec 1947. She passed away 26 Mar 2014 in Sidney, Nebraska.