Romeo A. Leclair
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Romeo A. Leclair enlisted in the U.S. Army on 8 December1942 in Rutland, VT.

On 21 January 1944, Private First Class Romeo A. Leclair was serving as a Medical Aidman with the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, Seventh U.S. Army.

On that day, PFC Leclair’s unit was in action against German forces at the Gari River (often erroneously identified as the Rapido River) in Italy. The 36th Infantry Division attacked across the Gari River on the night of 20 January but was harshly repulsed by the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division, and the 141st and 143rd Infantry Regiments were virtually destroyed and the attack was stopped. PFC Leclair’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Romeo A. Leclair (31200648), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 143d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 21 January 1944, near the Rapido River in Italy. Private First Class Leclair's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 36th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 70 (1944)

Memorialization

Private First Class Romeo A. Leclair is memorialized by having his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56311296/romeo-a-leclair