Joseph Lesniewski (29 August 1920-23 May 2012) was a US Army Private first class who served with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, US 506th Infantry Regiment during World War II.
Biography[]
Pfc Joseph A. Lesniewski was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in August, 1920. He graduated from high school in 1939 and attended the Civilian Conservation Corps which trained him just like the Army would. After Pearl Harbour he volunteered for the Army but was placed in the Air Force (Corps). He excelled in the exams to begin training as a pilot but his results were lost and he was denied entry to the programme. So he volunteered for the paratroopers instead.
He headed to Europe with the 514st PIR and was stationed in Northern Ireland. As he was fluent in Polish he was chosen to be part of specialized training in London with the Office of Strategic Services and the Polish Army for a top secret mission. The mission was cancelled however, & Joe returned to NI. He was then given the choice of which unit he would like to join. He'd heard good things about the 506th PIR so he chose them. Within a few days he was assigned to Easy Co.
Joe parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and fought with Easy through Normandy, Netherlands, Bastogne (where he had to wear burlap sacks over his feet as he had given his boots in for repair before the 101st was sent there), Germany, and on to the end of the war.
Jim Alley credits Joe with saving his life after he warned of an incoming German grenade while on a night patrol on "The Island", which gave Alley enough time to turn away from receiving a frontal blast.
Joe was wounded in the legs during the fighting in Foy on Jan 13, 1945, and developed an infection which saw him sent to hospital. Captain Speirs, Easy's C.O, mistakenly sent a letter to his parents saying Joe had been killed in action, but his sister was able to intercept the letter. Joe was able to write home from the hospital and let his family know he was okay.
Joe was awarded 2 Purple Hearts & a Bronze Star during his service.
Later Live[]
He returned to the U.S in Nov, 1945, but his problems didn't end as he was robbed at gunpoint while hitch-hiking home. He worked in the postal service for 34 years & enjoyed fishing in a cabin he bought with friends. He can be seen in the veteran interviews in the Band of Brothers documentary & series. Joe passed in May, 2012.
Joe was portrayed by Simon Schatzberger in the series.