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Leibovitz, Sherwin J. (658th)

Sherwin-J-Leibold-2Sherwin J. Leibovitz

Biography:  Sherwin Jack Leibovitz who was know as “Sonny”, was born on December 11, 1924 in Chicago, IL.  He was the son of Louis and Erma Leibovitz and attended local school completing the 11th grade. His discharge mentions that he has some experience working as a clerk, before the war.

Service Time:  Sonny joined the Army on March 29, 1943 and began active service on April 5, 1943 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.  His initial training sent him to Killeen, Texas and assignment to the Reconnaissance Company of the 658th Tank Destroyer Battalion.  He qualified with a Marksman rating on the M-1 rifle and an Expert rating with the carbine.

On April 15, 1944, while the unit was stationed at Fort Ord, CA, it was redesignated as the 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion and began training with AmTrac vehicles and for island warfare.  They shipped out from San Francisco into the South Pacific.  Sonny received credit for three of the unit’s campaigns including Bismarck Archipelago, Luzon and Southern Philippines.  He took part in the liberation of the Philippines and received the Philippine Liberation Medal in addition to the American Campaign Medal, Pacific Theater Medal and Good Conduct medal.

Sherwin-J.Leibold-1Sonny left the service on January 21, 1946 at Camp Grant, Illinois at the rank of Technician 5th Grade.

Honorable Discharge

After leaving the service, Sonny found work in the Hobby Business.  On April 8, 1951, he married the former Florence Ida Heller who had been born in Chicago.  She was the daughter of Henry Heller and together the couple would have three children, Lee born in 1953, Lynne born in 1956 and Scott, born in 1967.  In 1962, Sonny changed the family name to Leibold.

Sherwin J. Leibold passed away in May of 2006 and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in California.

Sherwin “Sonny” Jack Leibold Eulogy

I want to thank Sonny’s son Lee for providing photos and information on his father.  I want to also thank him for providing a large number of photos of the 658th Amphibian Tractor Battalion which are displayed in the Unit Section of the website.

Sherwin-J-Leibold-3Sherwin-J-Leibold-4


Above left you can see Sonny with his carbine.  Note that at this point, he was still wearing his tank destroyer patch.  Photo on right shows him while still in the states, but probably while stationed in California, just prior to shipping out.