Lester Gustave Alsleben
Military
Ground Crew Chief
A-26B-20-DL #41-39264 "Carrot Top" Code: 5H-I
416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF
Object Number - UPL 48787 - TSGT Lester Gustave Alsleben Ground Crew Chief A-26B-20-DL #41-39264 "Carrot Top" Code: 5H-I 416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Melun, Alsace
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New Auburn, Minnesota | 17 March 1916 | |
| Brownton, Minnesota | 16 October 1940 | ||
|
Died |
Waconia, Minnesota | 1 July 2012 | Mr. Alsleben entered active military service in the U.S. Army-Air Force on April 17, 1942, and served his country as an aircraft mechanic in the 416th Bomb Group during World War II. He earned the rank of technical sergeant. In January 1944, he was sent overseas to the European Theatre. Mr. Alsleben was stationed in England until the invasion of France, where he took part in the air offense of Europe, Normandy and Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was a carbine marksman and received the Good Conduct Medal, Go 2 Hq. 416 Gp. 44, Bronze Star Medal, Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal, three overseas bars and a lapel button. He had "no time lost" while in the service. Before his discharge, he spent two months in Holland near Germany and England. His group was offered passage on a Kaiser-built boat to the United States. They arrived in New York in October 1945, and then took a train ride to Camp McCoy. Mr. Alsleben received an honorable discharge on Oct. 4, 1945. On June 28, 1944, Mr. Alsleben was united in marriage to Rodella Hoof at the parsonage in Bongards. This marriage was blessed with five children. The Alslebens resided in Brownton and enjoyed 29 years of marriage before Mrs. Alsleben died in 1970. On Dec. 13, 1973, Mr. Alsleben was united in marriage to Veryle Sleiper of Brainerd. They resided in Brownton and enjoyed many bus trips to various states. They shared 20 years of marriage before Veryle Alsleben died in 1993. In his youth, Mr. Alsleben helped on the farm with horses and tractors, and he also helped neighbors and worked in town. When he reached the age of 22, he moved to Brownton and began working for Elmer Bartels, hauling gravel and driving a beverage truck. After returning from the war, Mr. Alsleben decide to go back to work with Bartels. With on-the-job training, he learned to operate the yard dragline, backhoe and shovel. From 1946 until 1957, many of the basements and open ditches in the Brownton area were dug by Mr. Alsleben. He also worked part time in the winter plowing snow for McLeod County, garage work for Podratz and Timm and meat cutting at the Brownton City Meat Market. In spring 1957, William Pinske asked him to work full time at the City Meat Market. He learned all phases of the meat cutting trade and continued working until his retirement in 1981. He helped out at the meat market part time until 2000. Mr. Alsleben became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brownton in 1940. He also was a member of the Brownton American Legion Edward Ewald Post 143, Brownton Rod & Gun Club, Brownton Civic & Commerce Association, Brownton Senior Citizens, Brownton Fire Department and the Little Falls VFW Post 1112. Mr. Alsleben enjoyed traveling, woodworking, wine making, playing bingo and cards. |
|
Buried |
Brownton, Minnesota | 7 July 2012 | Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery Brownton, McLeod County, Minnesota, USA |
