Footnote: Leo P.W. Sarrazin was born on April 8, 1923 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Omer Sarrazin, and was raised in Pawtucket. He was employed by the Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation of Ashton, Rhode Island and was a resident of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, when he enlisted with the United States Army (service number 31298054), on February 24, 1942. He received his basic training at Camp Swift in Texas, before being sent overseas to the Pacific Theatre, specifically the China-Burma-India Theater, where he joined the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), also known as "Merrill's Marauders". This group was named after Frank Merrill and was a United States Army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the South-East Asian theatre of during the Second World War, or China-Burma-India Theater (CBI). The unit became famous for its deep-penetration missions behind Japanese lines, often engaging Japanese forces superior in number. The last communication Sarrazin had with his parents was a V-mail letter, where in it he stated that "he was doing fine, and had gotten a haircut for the first time in months." Private First Class Leo P.W. Sarrazin was serving with Company H, 3rd Battalion, 5307th Composite Group (Provisional) "Merrill's Marauders" in the China-Burna-India Theater, when he was Killed in Action on July 28, 1944 at Myitkyina, Burma, at the age of 21. He was initially buried in Kalaikunda Cemetery, Kalaikunda, India, before his remains were later repatriated to the United States. He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, in his hometown of North Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts, his grave marker inscribed "LEO P W / SARRAZIN / MASSACHUSETTS / PFC INFANTRY / WORLD WAR II / APRIL 8, 1923 / JULY 28 1944". There is also a street named after him in North Attleboro, "Leo P. Sarrazin Road". His brother, Jerome Sarrazin, had previously received a medical discharge.
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United States. A Purple Heart to Private I Class Sarrazinof "Merrill's Marauders", KIA at Myitkyina, Burma
Purple Heart, Cased and Boxed, to Private First Class Leo P.W. Sarrazin, Company H, 3rd Battalion, 5307th Composite Group (Provisional) "Merrill's Marauders", KIA at Myitkyina, Burma; Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with purple, red, white and green enamels, engraved "LEO P.W. SARRAZIN" on the reverse, measuring 34.7 mm (w) x 43.5 mm (h), original ribbon with brooch pinback, intact enamels, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, marked "PURPLE HEART" on the lid, case also extremely fine. Accompanied by its cardboard shipping container.
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