Vincent George Leckey represented the U.S. Army Combat Engineers in this poster titled “We Clear the Way.”

 Contributed

This story tells of a young, 17-year-old boy from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. With the consent and signature of his father, Vincent George Leckey joined the Army in 1941.

After completing basic training and AIT, he was stationed to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, situated along the Potomac River just outside of Alexandria and home to the U.S. Army’s Engineer’s School.

Private Leckey excelled in his duties and ongoing training as a combat engineer to such extent that he was recognized and awarded in 1942 — early in his military service — as “The Ideal American Soldier.” One month later he was chosen from the considerable numbers making up the group of his peers for a special assignment in addition to his regular duties — to become the image that would represent the U.S. Army Combat Engineers.

Through the course of his military service, MSG Leckey had gone about the business of raising a family, marrying Alice Marie Bittner, from neighboring Myersdale, Pennsylvania. They raised five children during his military career: Bonnie Jean, Cheryl Ann, Wendy Lee, Robin George, Cory Eugene and his sister’s daughter, Sharon.

I happened to have met Wendy Lee in 1980, and we married in August 1981.

There’s more to this story in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.