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Poteshman, Leon (36629611): Difference between revisions
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Add 20 July 1943 Camp Ritchie naturalization (Washington Post 21 Jul 1943) |
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|birth_date=22 February 1922 | |birth_date=22 February 1922 | ||
|death_date=19 August 2021 | |death_date=19 August 2021 | ||
|birth_year=1922 | |birth_year=1922 | ||
|rank_final=Sgt | |rank_final=Sgt | ||
|teams=MII 416 | |||
}} | }} | ||
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He was born in Poland on February 22, 1922, grew up in France, and came to the United States while a teenager. He was born on February 22, 1922, and emigrated to the United States at age 16. | He was born in Poland on February 22, 1922, grew up in France, and came to the United States while a teenager. He was born on February 22, 1922, and emigrated to the United States at age 16. | ||
Leon was in the 7th Class at Camp Ritchie and served on French Team 416. Poteshman trained in military intelligence at Camp Ritchie and served as a French interpreter during the War interrogating collaborators with the Germans. | Leon was in the 7th Class at Camp Ritchie and served on French Team 416. Poteshman trained in military intelligence at Camp Ritchie and served as a French interpreter during the War interrogating collaborators with the Germans. On 20 July 1943, he was naturalized as a United States citizen in District Court in Washington, D.C., in a ceremony for Camp Ritchie soldiers reported the next day in ''The Washington Post''. | ||
From 1941 to 1942, Poteshman student at Illinois Institute of Technology (18 months). He served from 1943-45 in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland, and was stationed in Paris at the Headquarters of the 1st Army as an Interrogator. Leon worked as shipping clerk. | From 1941 to 1942, Poteshman student at Illinois Institute of Technology (18 months). He served from 1943-45 in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland, and was stationed in Paris at the Headquarters of the 1st Army as an Interrogator. Leon worked as shipping clerk. | ||
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== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* Camp Sharpe 11-11-43 | * Camp Sharpe 11-11-43 | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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4472743486080871.jpg|On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop | 4472743486080871.jpg|On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop | ||
4472745236080696.jpg|On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop | 4472745236080696.jpg|On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop | ||
Washington_Post_85_Soldiers_Naturalized_21_Jul_1943.jpg|''Washington Post'', 21 July 1943 — naturalized 20 July 1943 (Camp Ritchie cohort ceremony, District Court, Washington, D.C.) | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | ||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | <div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | ||
* 12 June 1943 — Graduated Class 7 (MII French). | |||
* 20 July 1943 — Naturalized as a U.S. citizen in District Court, Washington, D.C. (Camp Ritchie soldiers’ ceremony; reported in ''The Washington Post'', 21 July 1943) | |||
* 1 December 1943 — Promoted to T/3 (later S/Sgt). | |||
* Born 22 February 1922 in Lublin, Poland as Salomon Lejb Potyszman (Hebrew). | * Born 22 February 1922 in Lublin, Poland as Salomon Lejb Potyszman (Hebrew). | ||
* Assigned to MII 416-Fr, First Army HQ. | * Assigned to MII 416-Fr, First Army HQ. | ||
* Joined OSS ?. | * Joined OSS ?. | ||
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== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* [[:File:Washington_Post_85_Soldiers_Naturalized_21_Jul_1943.pdf|Same clipping (PDF)]] | |||
* [[The Stories/Camp Ritchie naturalization (July 1943)]] | |||
* [[:File:Washington_Post_85_Soldiers_Naturalized_21_Jul_1943.jpg|“85 Soldiers Naturalized In Court Here,” ''The Washington Post'', 21 July 1943, p. B6]] (ceremony '''20 July 1943'''; almost all from Camp Ritchie) | |||
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | * Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data | ||
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | * Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records | ||
Latest revision as of 12:55, 17 September 2026
| Leon Poteshman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Potyszman |
| Born | 22 February 1922 |
| Died | 19 August 2021 |
| Nativity | Poland |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| ASN | 36629611 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Rank at Ritchie | Private |
| Camp Ritchie | Class 7 (15 April – 12 June 1943) |
| Section | 12 |
| Team | MII 416-G |
{{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.
Leon Poteshman (22 February 1922 – 19 August 2021) was a Ritchie Boy (born Potyszman; from Poland; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 7.
Biography[edit | edit source]
He was born in Poland on February 22, 1922, grew up in France, and came to the United States while a teenager. He was born on February 22, 1922, and emigrated to the United States at age 16.
Leon was in the 7th Class at Camp Ritchie and served on French Team 416. Poteshman trained in military intelligence at Camp Ritchie and served as a French interpreter during the War interrogating collaborators with the Germans. On 20 July 1943, he was naturalized as a United States citizen in District Court in Washington, D.C., in a ceremony for Camp Ritchie soldiers reported the next day in The Washington Post.
From 1941 to 1942, Poteshman student at Illinois Institute of Technology (18 months). He served from 1943-45 in Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland, and was stationed in Paris at the Headquarters of the 1st Army as an Interrogator. Leon worked as shipping clerk.
Leon Poteshman wrote this Summer that he is 94 and residing in Highland Park, IL. One important piece of news is that Leon Poteshman of Highland Park, IL, is home recovering from a recent hospitalization. Poteshman is also survived by his wife Esther, to whom he was married 69 years.
He helped establish new mayors in cities along the way to Paris while arresting those who had worked with the Germans. He was stationed in France during his service in WWII due to his French fluency. He also served with the OSS.
In his later life, he left a remarkable legacy with two children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was the owner of Western Tool Company, where he worked until age 85.
Research notes[edit | edit source]
- Camp Sharpe 11-11-43
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop -
On the left, Ritchie Boy Leon Poteshman is sitting on the lower stoop -
Washington Post, 21 July 1943 — naturalized 20 July 1943 (Camp Ritchie cohort ceremony, District Court, Washington, D.C.)
Technical record[edit | edit source]
| Field | Imported value |
|---|---|
| Class_ASN | 36629611 |
| Class_Name | POTESHMAN, Leon |
| match_method | asn_exact_name_exact |
| row_source | both |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- 12 June 1943 — Graduated Class 7 (MII French).
- 20 July 1943 — Naturalized as a U.S. citizen in District Court, Washington, D.C. (Camp Ritchie soldiers’ ceremony; reported in The Washington Post, 21 July 1943)
- 1 December 1943 — Promoted to T/3 (later S/Sgt).
- Born 22 February 1922 in Lublin, Poland as Salomon Lejb Potyszman (Hebrew).
- Assigned to MII 416-Fr, First Army HQ.
- Joined OSS ?.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Same clipping (PDF)
- The Stories/Camp Ritchie naturalization (July 1943)
- “85 Soldiers Naturalized In Court Here,” The Washington Post, 21 July 1943, p. B6 (ceremony 20 July 1943; almost all from Camp Ritchie)
- Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
- Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
- NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
- 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2016-10-11 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2020-05-06 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-08-19 (1 post)
- Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2021-08-31 (1 post)
- Facebook-linked source: stream-media.loc.gov
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Leon Poteshman for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
- Dan Gross, Timeline of Poteshman, Leon for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: LEON POTESHMAN.doc)