Leonard E. Rose

Leonard E. Rose 82, Indianapolis, was born in Palestine, IL on May 22, 1924. While living in Vincennes, IN he was inducted into the service on February 15, 1943. His USAAF basic training was at St. Petersburg, FL, radio school at Scott Field, IL, Armor School in Denver, CO, and Gunnery School in Laredo, TX. Crew formation at Salt Lake, UT and crew training in B-24's at Davis Monthan, Tuscon, AZ. Crew assignment at Lincoln, NE. He went by the troop ship General Butner from Norfolk, VA to Oran, North Africa to Naples, thence to their base in Cerignola, Italy. He was with the 15th AF, 459th BG, 758 BS. His B-24 was hit over Germany on his 28th mission on Aug. 29, 1944. He bailed out over Yugoslavia and was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was put in a prison at Budapest, Hungary and held 16 days in solitary confinement. He was then taken by 40 & 8 boxcar through Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Germany to the prison camp Stalag Luft IV in the town of Kiefheide and railroad station of Grossstychow in the Pomeranian Sector of Northern Germany at the crossing of the 16 and 54 meridian of the Globe. He and the other prisoners were marched out of Stalag Luft IV by the Germans on February 8, 1945 and walked more than 500 miles. They were liberated by the Russians who, in turn, locked them up for three weeks. He escaped and reached the American Army on May 20, 1945. Rose was the Indiana Dept. Commander, and Indiana Hoosier Chapter Adj.Treas. since 1979. He had more than 2500 names and address of ex-POWs from Stalag Luft IV. There were more than 10,000 prisoners in February 1945 before they were marched out by the Germans. Leonard was retired after 25 years with the Ford Motor Company. He was married to Ella (Williams) Rose for 51 years, and she preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughter, Gina (husband, Karl); son, Barry (wife, Linda); and grandchildren, Kenneth (wife, Tiffany), and Madeline. Friends may call from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, November 20, 2006 at Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center - Lawrence. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Ex-Prisoners of War, Attn: Commander Robert W. Fletcher, 1331 S. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103.