Rank / Rating: F1-Fireman First Class
Leo A. K. Bedsted was born August 20th, 1927 in Tyler, MN as the second son of Thomas M. Bedsted (born August,1890 in Denmark) and Hilda Christensen Bedsted. Leo grew up in Walworth and Milwaukee, WI. (1)
At age 17 Leo traveled from Walworth to Milwaukee, WI to enlist in the Navy on October 13,1944. He was sent to boot training at Great Lake, IL and to fleet service training in San Diego, CA where he trained in maintenance of diesel engines earning a Class A rating.
His last training was at Camp Shoemaker Navy Training and Distribution Center in Dublin, CA where he received orders to board USS Indianapolis CA 35 in San Francisco, CA on June 25, 1945 with the rank of Fireman 1C. Leo served on board Indianapolis only 35 days before he died when the heavy cruiser was sunk on July 30, 1945 at the ending of WWII.
Leo enlisted at age 17 and died at age 17. His father Thomas died eight months later at age 55 in March,1946. His mother Hilda lived to be 93, never remarrying. His older brother and 2 younger sisters are deceased. (1)
Sources:
(1)Find-A-Grave.com;
Ancestry.com
USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Turner Publishing Company, 1997
