Military: Sgt. Leland Ashcraft death, Medford Mail Tribune, Jackson Co., Oregon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ********************************************************************************* Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 1 Feb 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Wednesday, 12 Apr 1944, p. 4 THIRD ASHCRAFT DIES IN SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY Ashland, April 12 - News of the death in action of Sgt. Leland Ashcraft was received Tuesday by relatives here. No details were given. It was believed he was killed in battle at Cassino, having recovered sufficiently after hospitalization from injuries received in the invasion of Italy, to return to the front. For his bravery shown at that time he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was in the 5th Army, 2nd Division. Leland Ashcraft is the third and last son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ashcraft, now of Camas Valley but formerly of Talent and Ashland, to have given their lives for their country. It will be remembered that Lt. Dean Ashcraft was killed in a plane accident in Florida and accorded a military funeral here. The second, Lt. Kent Ashcraft, while on a mission of rescue in the Pacific area, was reported lost and now the third and only remaining son dies in combat. Sgt. Ashcraft was an Ashland boy, attended the Southern Oregon College of Education and Oregon State. He was employed at the ice [-?-] before induction.