Corporal Mark Joe Lefler
“
Darbys Rangers” 3rd. Ranger Battalion
Lefler, Mark Joe - Mark Lefler was born at Zeigler, Illinois on January
19, 1925. he enlisted in the US Army on April 19, 1943 at the age of
18. Lefler volunteered to serve in the tough 3rd. Ranger Battalion,
later known as Darby's Rangers. In January 1944, three days after his
19th birthday, the Rangers led the landing south of Rome at Anzio, Italy.
Even though the US Army had the element of surprise, the German army
contained the Americans on the beachhead for nearly four months. during
an attempted breakout from Anzio, Lefler was captured and sent to a
German Stalag. during his stay in the prison camp, Lefler’s weight
fell from 210 pounds to 95 pounds at the time of his release 16 months
later.
In 1945 Lefler
was returned to the United States where he spent many months in military
hospitals receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the
German prison camp. In 1950, after the invasion of South Korea by the
North Korean Army, Lefler was called to serve his country a second time.
He served on active duty in Korea until his discharge September 30,
1952.
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