Dates: 1943-1944.
Size: 0.33 cubic ft.

Biography:
Lexie Watson Horn

Lexie Watson Horn was born on March 5, 1923, on a farm in Hillsboro, Scott County, to Leona Bessie Chambers (1903-1991) and Willie Watson Horn (1897-1965).  He had five siblings: Gladys (1920-2012), Frances (1922-2011), William Preston (1926-1999), Charles (b. 1930), and Annie Lauie (1933-2002).  His father was a veteran of World War I.  Lexie married Audie Lee Edwards (May 9, 1927 – January 18, 2010) between 1940 and 1943 when he enlisted in the army.  She was the daughter of Clark and Maude Edwards of Scott County, Mississippi.

Lexie W. Horn registered a draft card on June 19, 1943, in Hillsboro, Scott County, then enlisted in the United States Army on August 25, 1943 at Camp Shelby, Forrest County, Mississippi.  In early June 1944, Horn, a private in the 359th Infantry of the 90th Division, was stationed at Camp Syon Abbey in Devonshire, England, and then prepared for embarkation at Dartmouth-Salcombe Bay before initiating on June 5 the crossing of the English Channel.  Horn landed on Utah Beach and moved with his fellow soldiers to an area by St. Martin de Verreville. On June 7 they moved near Reuville. By June 11, the 359th Infantry was committed to action near Picauville where regiments received a severe shelling during the move.  They continued to encounter severe resistance and was forced to enter into hedgerow to hedgerow combat. On June 14 the 359th Infantry was ordered to assume the attack on Orglandes, however on June 15 the 90th Division received new orders to seize and hold a line running from the railroad station to Terre de Beauval. The 359th Infantry held the part that ran from Raven to Haut David.  It is known that Private Lexie W. Horn died on June 15, 1944, however it is unknown if his injuries occurred days earlier or on the same day. Horn is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Department du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.  Horn was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

Leonard Paul Kiedrowski

Leonard “Lennye” Paul Kiedrowski was born on August 2, 1924, in Chesaning, Michigan, to Christine K. Jacobs (1904-1993) and Anthony A. Kiedrowski (1902-1955).  His youth was spent primarily in Detroit, with four siblings: Mary Ann (1927-2014), Julia Pauline (1931-), Daniel (1933-), and Jerry.  By the time he was 18 years old the Fernstedt Division of General Motors Corporation employed him.  Leonard married Frances Evelyn Horn (December 22, 1921 – October 3, 2011), sister of Lexie Watson Horn.  The couple lived in Dallas, Texas, and Hillsboro, Scott County, before moving in 1956 to Florence, Rankin County, Mississippi.  Leonard and Frances had three children: Karen Jane, Tony Scott, and Larry.

Leonard registered a draft card on December 12, 1942, in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, and then enlisted in the United States Army on September 22, 1942. He was a Sergeant in the United States Army Air Force by the time he was released from service on March 2, 1946.  He participated in civic activities in his community, which included serving as treasurer for the Lions Club.  Leonard P. Kiedrowski died on August 16, 2004, in Forrest, Scott County, and is buried in Hillsboro Baptist Cemetery, Hillsboro, Scott County, Mississippi.

 
Scope and Content Note:

This collection consists of fourteen letters, ten of which were written by Lexie Watson Horn to his sisters Frances and Gladys in Scott County while he served in the United States Army overseas during World War II and before he died in Normandy, France, on June 15, 1944.  The other four letters were written by Leonard “Lennye” P. Kiedrowski to Frances Horn, sister to Lexie W. Horn, during his military training at Camp Shelby, in August 1944.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1943-1944, n.d.

This series is divided into two subseries to provide context of the main correspondents, Lexie Horn and Leonard Kiedrowski, and their individual military experiences.

Subseries 1.1: Lexie Watson Horn, 1943-1944, n.d.

Lexie Horn writes ten letters home to his sisters in Hillsboro, Scott County. Nine letters are addressed to Frances Horn with one letter addressed to his eldest sister Gladys Horn.  Lexie sent letters and v-mail from Camp Van Dorn in Mississippi, Fort Dix in New Jersey, and England. The correspondence ends on May 26 prior to his landing on Utah Beach, Normandy, France, June 6, 1944.

Box 1, folders 1-10.

 

Subseries 1.2: Leonard Paul Kiedrowski, 1944.

These four letters from Leonard “Lennye” Paul Kiedrowski to Frances Horn are sent during August 1944 while he was stationed at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for training. The last letter is possibly missing pages, however, seems to indicate Leonard is in Europe not far from General George S. Patton’s Third Army sweep across France.

Box 1, folders 11-14.

 

Box List:

Box 1:

Folder 1: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, Camp Van Dorn, MS, October 20, 1943.
Folder 2: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Gladys Horn, Camp Van Dorn, MS, November 14, 1943.
Folder 2: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, Camp Van Dorn, MS, November 16, 1943.
Folder 3: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, Camp Van Dorn, MS, December 5, 1943.
Folder 4: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, Fort Dix, NJ, February 22, [1944].
Folder 7: V-mail. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, April 17, 1944.
Folder 8: V-mail. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, April 25, [1944].
Folder 9: V-mail. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, May 10, 1944.
Folder 10: V-mail. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, May 13, 1944.
Folder 5: Letter. Lexie W. Horn to Frances Horn, England, May 26, [1944].
Folder 11: Letter. Leonard P. Kiedrowski to Frances Horn, Camp Shelby, MS, August 15, 1944.
Folder 12: Letter. Leonard P. Kiedrowski to Frances Horn, Camp Shelby, MS, August 16, 1944.
Folder 13: Letter. Leonard P. Kiedrowski to Frances Horn, Camp Shelby, MS, August 17, 1944.
Folder 14: Letter (partial). Leonard P. Kiedrowski to Frances Horn, August 23, 1944.