LTC Matthew L. Legler USA (Retired), a WW II veteran, passed way on June 23, 2012 at his home on Hilton Head Is., SC. He was 96.
Born on a farm in Jefferson Township in 1916, he and his brother John grew up on 11th Street in the home of his grandparents, Matthias and Euphemia Geigel, his mother Anna Legler and his Aunt, Marie Geigel.
After graduating from Monroe High School in 1934, he spent one year at U of WI-Madison before he received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1939 and was stationed at a number of posts in MI, AL, and TX until he was shipped overseas. On December 16, 1944 he was on the front line with the 99th Division "Checkerboard," 393d Infantry when the Battle of the Bulge began. He received the Silver and Bronze Star. Wounded in Feb. 1945, he was retired from the Army in October of that year and began a 34 year career with Socony (later Mobil Oil Co) in upstate NY, transferring to NYC HQ in 1957. He retired in 1980 as Chief Motor Vehicle Design Engineer and moved to SC.
He maintained lifelong contacts with his Monroe classmates, attending his last high school reunion in 2004.
He is survived by his daughters, Barbara Legler of Redwood City, CA and Laura Legler of Oak Hill, VA, a niece and 2 nephews. Internment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Born on a farm in Jefferson Township in 1916, he and his brother John grew up on 11th Street in the home of his grandparents, Matthias and Euphemia Geigel, his mother Anna Legler and his Aunt, Marie Geigel.
After graduating from Monroe High School in 1934, he spent one year at U of WI-Madison before he received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1939 and was stationed at a number of posts in MI, AL, and TX until he was shipped overseas. On December 16, 1944 he was on the front line with the 99th Division "Checkerboard," 393d Infantry when the Battle of the Bulge began. He received the Silver and Bronze Star. Wounded in Feb. 1945, he was retired from the Army in October of that year and began a 34 year career with Socony (later Mobil Oil Co) in upstate NY, transferring to NYC HQ in 1957. He retired in 1980 as Chief Motor Vehicle Design Engineer and moved to SC.
He maintained lifelong contacts with his Monroe classmates, attending his last high school reunion in 2004.
He is survived by his daughters, Barbara Legler of Redwood City, CA and Laura Legler of Oak Hill, VA, a niece and 2 nephews. Internment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.