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Editors Note: This article is part of a series featuring veterans of American Wars.

Washington native Leslie Edmund Wall, or Ed as he was known, volunteered for the National Guard in 1940 and was assigned to the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, unknowing that his unit would be activated the following year when the United States entered World War II. “It is safe to say that he served from the very first day of the war until its conclusion,” said Stephen Farrell, curator of special collections at Brown Library. “He saw action in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, France and Germany. It is unheard of to hear of an individual who served in all five of those military campaigns.”

As a Private First-Class, Wall drove one of the Stewart tanks, which would go out on reconnaissance missions to the front lines and bring back information to the troops. “What a scary job this must have been,” said Farrell. “The Stewart tanks were very small and brittle compared to the Tiger and Panther tanks of the Germans. The sheer dangers he must have been exposed to daily had to have been beyond what the normal person can comprehend.”

Wall was wounded in France in 1945 but remained on duty for the duration of the war. After returning home to Washington, he became a salesman for the local Dr. Pepper, which showcased his talents off the battlefield as well. “In 1956, my father competed in a salesman contest and won a 1956 Ford, which was very special,” said Sharon Whitehurst, his daughter. “He was a very loving, giving, honest, humble guy. He would have given the shirt off his back to help someone. He was not self-centered at all, as he always put others first. He was just that kind of person.”

Farrell learned of Wall when Whitehurst brought her father’s uniform, purple heart, and photo album to the library. A uniform that she didn’t even know existed until she found it in the closet of her mother’s home following her passing. “To see the uniform, the campaign medals which he had worn proudly pinned to it, and the purple heart he received after being wounded in action, makes you want to take a step back, as they all humanize him,” said Farrell. “As time passes, these names fade off only to be remembered by the family. It is so neat to have my position as the curator of the library and the opportunity to preserve and share the names and artifacts of our war veterans from Washington with the public. Wall’s story tells a lot about him and his dedication not only to the Army, the American public, but his community here in Washington, and one we need to preserve for the ages.”

“When my father got ready to walk me down the aisle, he took my arm like he thought I was going to break,” said Whitehurst, as her voice began to quiver with emotion. “Luckily, I married a man just like my dear old dad. I’m just very fortunate.”