Leon Lindauer collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 98.0767

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of personal effects, personal letters, and documents related to U.S. Army Infantryman Leon Lindauer who served with the 88th Infantry Division during World War II. Objects such as a posthumous Purple Heart, yarmulke, writing utensils, personal toiletries, and Jewish prayer books are included in the collection. Lindauer's written collection includes biographical documents, primarily papers from his time as a Boy Scout before the war, and a vast number of personal letters to his family during the war. Also included are official letters of condolences and documentation concerning his burial and pension/insurance claims to his family after his killed in action death in Italy on September 28, 1944.

Dates

1924-1948
Other: Majority of material found within 1943-1944
Other: Date acquired: 11/05/1998
Other: Date accessioned: 2020-04-21

Creator

Lindauer, Leon, 1924-1944 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Leon Lindauer Jr. was born on December 22, 1924, in Savannah, Georgia to a small Jewish family. After the death of his father when he was two years old, he became very close to his mother Yetta Getz and his two sisters. Lindauer became very involved in Boy Scout Troop 2 and Tomo Chi-Chi Lodge 119 of the Order of the Arrow, a Scout organization. In 1943, shortly after his eighteenth birthday, Lindauer enlisted in the U.S. Army, training in Ft. McPherson, Georgia and Camp Fannin, Texas. He was then shipped to Italy as part of the 351st Regiment of the 88th Infantry Division ('Blue Devils') of the Fifth Army. He saw extensive service in the Italian campaign throughout 1944 and participated in the liberation of Rome. Leon Lindauer was killed by a sniper while on patrol in the Po Valley on September 28, 1944, during the battles to capture Mt. Guasteto and Mt. Capello. His remains were repatriated and reburied in Savannah, Georgia, in Bonaventure Cemetery, Section P, Block O, Lot 121, on November 23, 1948.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (This collection contains two boxes. One contains letters and documents. The other contains artifacts, including a VHS tape. The collection also includes a book, two large photographs, and a painting.)

2 photographs (Photographs Collection OS Box 5)

19 items (16 artifacts in Artifact Box 4; 1 VHS in AV Cabinet Box; 1 Painting; 1 Book)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Subjects

Boy Scouts--History Subject Source: Local sources
Camp Fannin (Tex.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Fort McPherson (Ga.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Jewish soldiers--Correspondence Subject Source: Local sources
Savannah (Ga.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 88th Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Italy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Italy--Po River Valley Subject Source: Local sources