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NEW CASTLE NEWS/ASSOCIATED PRESS Bob Leslie holds a photo of himself from his time in the Army during World War II.
At the end of World War II, Newcastle-born Bob Leslie found himself at Dachau, Germany’s Nazi concentration camp, where more than 40,000 Jewish prisoners died in gas chambers.
Bob’s Army division arrived after the infamous camp had closed, but experiencing that history is something the soon-to-be 100-year-old will never forget.
“We slept in bunk beds in a room next to the death chamber.” He said. “We didn’t like it. They put us in there to prove to the Germans that we had conquered them.”
Leslie, a decorated war veteran who spent nine months in combat in Europe and was twice wounded, will turn 100 on January 6th. His family plans to celebrate the bright 100-year-old with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Clen Moore Presbyterian Church, Neshannock Township.
He currently lives alone in a studio apartment at Concordia Retirement Community in Cabot. Living on his Boulevard in Laurel from 1948 until 1998, and then on his Avenue in Hazelcroft, he outlived his wife of 74 years. Betty Leslie, a member of the Jameson Junior Guild for 54 years and a Sunday School teacher at Crane Moore Presbyterian Church for 40 years, passed away in October 2022 at the age of 96.
Bob’s 55-year career began as a teenager. While in high school, he worked for his uncle at Spencer’s Paint & Glass in New Castle. After the war, he returned to the store. Bob retired as president of the former 15 S. Mercer St. business in 1994.
He was born on January 6, 1924 in the family home on Luton Street, the son of Walter and Broduen Leslie. His twin sister died at his birth.
“She weighed more than me, but she had a broken arm and died from the shock of childbirth.” He said.
Leslie graduated from New Castle High School in January 1942. Two months later, Leslie, then 18, was drafted into the military along with 40 to 50 of his classmates.
Assigned to the 8th Armored Division, he was sent to the University of Oklahoma, where he learned how to rebuild the war-damaged power and water systems of the Allies.
In the fall of 1994, the Army sent him to Germany and Austria. at first, “It was very easy.”
“All we did was occupy this beautiful country.” He said. “The Austrians liked us even though we fought for the Germans. They had been ordered to join Hitler.”
Leslie is training for combat. “Lovely summer” In the mountains on the outskirts of the Alpine city of Innsbruck.
“There was a ski resort at the top of the mountain, and I often went there on my days off.” He said.
The war eventually thrust Leslie’s Division into combat in the mountains during the winter of 1944-1945. During the battle with the Germans, all members of Leslie’s division were wounded or killed. Although he received shrapnel in the face, he was not hospitalized.
“It was cold and there was snow on the ground.” Bob said. “We wore different uniforms than the average infantryman and wore quilted sleeping bags. At least we would be warm at night.”
They wore felt-lined boots to keep their feet from freezing.
As the war progressed, supplies dwindled and U.S. forces captured many Germans, eventually surrendering. By then, Leslie, who was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed less than 100 pounds.
He returned to New Castle in November 1945.
“Life was so good” Bob said. “I was able to do what I wanted, go wherever I wanted, go dancing and things like that.”
Spencer Paint & Glass Co. was doing well.
“There were a lot of broken windows that people had boarded up.” He said.
Bob bought a used 1939 Chevrolet for $500 and met Betty Coryea, a 1944 New Castle High School graduate. Eleven months later they were married.
However, his son Dave said that as a result of the war, Bob suffered from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder until about 10 to 12 years ago. His father never showed affection.
“He was diagnosed with PTSD and couldn’t tell anyone he loved him until he got medical help.” Dave said. “When my brother and I were kids, he used to tell us war stories. That’s the kind of story he would tell. We couldn’t understand it. It was just a story.”
Dave, of Stevensville, Maryland, said he began to understand what his father was going through after 21 years in the Navy.
He said his father was a hard worker and active in the church.
“He had friends that he had known since he was a child. That was one of the benefits of being in a small town.” said the 70-year-old man. “He always had an outlet. He had no temper and always had someone to talk to at a fairly high intellectual level.”
During Leslie and his wife’s marriage, Dave said he never heard his parents argue or discuss things in depth.
The couple’s other children are Karen Bowman, 72, of Butler and Jim Leslie, 68, of Lebanon. Seven grandchildren and her eight great-grandchildren make up the family.
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