WORLD WAR I SILVER STAR MEDAL

#11334
​"Leo W. Albers"
United States Army Private Leo W. Albers (Service #1562998) was born March 2nd 1896 in La Porte, Indiana. Leo worked as a bicycle assembler when he was a teenager.
Leo registered for the draft June 5th 1917. Stating that he worked as Com Laborer at the Great Western Mfg. Co. at the time. He enlisted in the Army as a Pvt. the next day June 6th 1917 in La Porte, Indiana. Over the next year Pvt. Albers received "boot camp" training at Forte Benjamin Harrison - Lawrence Township, Indiana, & additional training at Camp Shelby - Mississippi, & Camp Merritt - New Jersey.
​ The 17th Company, Camp Shelby June automatic replacement draft with Pvt. Albers sailed for Brest, France June 13th 1918 on the ​Ocean liner SS Megantic from the Port of New York, N.Y.
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             While in Europe Pvt. Albers was assigned to Company B, 151st Infantry, then transferred to Company C, 139th Machine Gun Battalion; to Company D, 116th Engineers; to company D, 2nd Engineers, 2nd Division. 

Pvt Albers served a crucial roll as a "Bugler". During World War I,  Buglers were a communications soldier. The Buglers broadcasted orders to the rest of the company. So every company/battery was supposed to have one. However there was massive shortage of anyone that could play a Bugle. ​
Records show Pvt. Albers participated in battles in the Marbache, St. Mihiel, & Meuse Argonne Sectors, & while serving with the 2nd engineers at a Battle in Landres-et-St. Georges, Albers & his fellow Officers/enlisted-men were cited for Gallantry in Action, against the enemy in the Meuse Argonne Sector. Official G.O. No. 64 June 25th 1919.
​Pvt. Albers remained in Europe after the Allies Glorious Victory, he left The European battlefields bound for Mainland United States on Aug. 1st 1919 on the Navy transport ship U.S.S. Great Northern.  Pvt Albers arrived at the Hoboken, New Jersey Port on August 8th 1919, & he was Honorable discharged from the Army Aug. 15th 1919.
On July 19, 1932, the Secretary of War approved the conversion of the "Citation Star" to the Silver Star Medal, Pvt. Leo Albers was awarded Bailey, Banks, & Biddle Silver Star Medal #11334 for Gallantry in Action in the Great War.
Leo registered for the World War II draft in 1942, doing his part on the home front working at the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant making ammunition for the War effort.
Leo Albers passed away March 8th 1960 at 64 years old. He is buried at the J.D. Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, Chattooga County, Summerville, Georgia, USA