LeRoy Everett Barnes was born on June 13, 1922.  His parents Clarence and Emma were farmers in Little Washington, just north of Downingtown, PA.  He was one of 10 children: Grace, John, Mabel, Charles, Elwood, Florence, LeRoy, Thelma, Dorothy, and Hazel.  

LeRoy, who was nicknamed “Mike”, attended schools in East Brandywine and Downingtown High School. He left school before graduation to help his family, and obtained employment at Lukens Steel in Coatesville.

LeRoy was drafted into the Army and entered service on October 1, 1942. After basic training, he was sent overseas and served with the 85^th Custer Division of the Fifth Army. 

The 85^th was the second all draftee division to enter combat during World War II. The Division was activated at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in the spring of 1942.  The Division received advanced training in the swamps of Louisiana, and Desert Training in California.

LeRoy’s division arrived overseas at Casablanca French Morocco, in North Africa January 2, 1944.  They received amphibious training in Algeria from February to March. They arrived in Naples on March 28^th.  The division was sent north of the Garigliano River to defend against the GUSTAV Line. The GUSTAV Line, a German heavily fortified defensive line south of Rome, which virtually ground the Allied forces to a halt.

LeRoy’s Division launched an attack to successfully advance past the GUSTAV Line, opening the beach head to our forces which landed at Anzio, and was instrumental in the capture of Rome.

In June LeRoy had a close call.  He was preparing to fire on the enemy, when he was distracted by the sound of an enemy machine gun.  As he turned, the stock of his rifle was hit and scattered by a snipers bullet.

In August, 1944, the 85th Division proceeded north and attacked the western mountain defenses of the German Gothic line, which protected the crossing into Austria.  His division broke through on September 16^th, and continued against heavy resistance through mud and heavy rain.  It was during this drive, that LeRoy met his fate.  He was on a small boat, attempting a river crossing, when a hand grenade landed in his boat. Private First Class LeRoy Barnes was killed in combat on September 19, 1944.

Leroy Barnes was buried in the United States Military Cemetery in Florence, Italy

LeRoy’s brother, Elwood served in Army in the South Pacific, and sister Florence served as an Army Nurse in England during the War.