Lyle Gordon Leppke
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Lyle Gordon Leppke was born on 12 May 1946 in Canby, MN, the son of Arnold H. and Elna E. Weckwerth Leppke.

In 1964, Lyle graduated from Dr. Martin Luther High School at New Ulm, MN. He attended Northwestern Lutheran College at Watertown, WI, from 1964-66, and attended St. Cloud State College from 1966 to 1968.

Lyle was inducted into the U.S. Army on 20 February 1969. He received his Basic Training at Fort Campbell, KY, where, upon completion, he received the Army Scholarship award and Expert Marksman Qualification Badge. Lyle received his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Polk, LA. He departed for South Vietnam on 21 July 1969.

On 5 August 1969, Private First Class Lyle Gordon Leppke was serving with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, in the A Shau Valley, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Leppke was Killed in Action. His body was recovered.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Marksman Badge

Honors

The name Lyle G Leppke is located on Panel 20W Line 98 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

PFC Leppke's memorial is on display at the Vietnam Memorial and History Center on Highway 68 in Minneota, MN.

Burial

Private First Class Lyle Gordon Leppke's body was accompanied home from Vietnam by U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Royal F. Luty. PFC Leppke is buried at Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery in Yellow Medicine County, MN.

He was survived by his parents, and one brother, Donald. He was also survived by his fiance, Miss Ila Gruys.