Original U.S. WWI 79th Division Engraved Purple Heart Medal Grouping to Austrian-Born Jew - Reported Missing in Meuse-Argonne - Morris L. Leschkowitz

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind. This is the Purple Heart medal grouping of Private Morris Louis Leschkowitz, Company L, 316th Infantry Regiment, 79th Division, who was severely wounded in action on September 28th, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Leschkowitz was born in Galicia, Austria, in 1889, immigrating to the U.S. at a young age. From his Jewish Serviceman’s Questionnaire, we can see that he received a severe gunshot wound to the left hand, resulting in the amputation of his ring finger. This resulted in him being rated at 25% disabled by the Army.

The grouping includes his 1932-issue split-brooch Purple Heart Medal, which is rim-engraved 8176, a very low and early number! The engraving is textbook for the first issued Purple Hearts, and has a great retained ribbon with a still-functional split brooch. The medal comes with its original issue ribbon with a great functional pin.

Also included is his VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Medal and his WWI Victory Medal, no clasps.

From his draft card, we can see that he applied for exemption from the draft due to having to take care of his parents, but this did not work, and he was drafted on May 29th, 1918, leaving for France in July 1918.

An outstanding grouping that comes with a couple pages of printed research, ready for display!