Leonard F. Bluml

World War II

Leonard Bluml was born on July 11, 1926, near Manning to Bernard (Ben) and Mary (Meier) Bluml. The family later moved to Halbur and, in 1939, settled on a farm near Lidderdale. Leonard registered for the military draft on July 12, 1944, and indicated he was employed on his father’s farm.

Leonard was inducted into the US Army on April 28, 1945, at Fort Leavenworth, KS. He was assigned serial number 37768572. At this point, the war with Germany was winding down but the Pacific war was far from over. Leonard was sent to Camp Hood in central Texas for basic training and was a member of Company B, 170th Battalion of the 95th Infantry Regiment. On May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies ending the war in Europe.

On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the atomic bomb attacks on Japan resulted in the surrender of Japan. Leonard continued basic training until completion in mid-September. After a furlough in Carroll County, he was sent to Fort Riley, KS on September 28, 1945. He was then sent for a short stay at Camp Adair near Corvallis, OR before reaching his final destination at Fort Ord, CA on October 23, 1945. There he was assigned to Army Ground Forces, Replacement Depot #2.

This unit had been preparing to be part of the anticipated invasion of Japan which was expected to cost hundreds of thousands of American lives. The atomic attacks, however, rendered this unnecessary. Training continued due to the American occupation of Japan. By December 13, 1945, it was determined Leonard’s presence was no longer required and he was discharged.

Leonard returned to Carroll County and worked in Arcadia. He was married to Alma Neppl on January 8, 1948, at St. Joseph’s Church in Wall Lake. They later lived in Halbur before Leonard left for Omaha, NE in 1958. He spent his later years in Arkansas and died at Bella Vista, AR on July 17, 2005 at age 79. He was buried in Elba Cemetery near Templeton.