Leo Richard Bender was born January 7, 1923 in Columbus, Ohio to Ralph G. Bender (1889-1950) and Clara Peplinski (1894-1963). His parents were married on June 29, 1914 in Richfield, NY. His mom was from nearby Richfield Springs, NY. His dad was from Utica, NY. He was their only child. His dad was a real estate broker and his mom worked in the sewing department of a department store. The family lived on Scott St. and then at 1522 Kemble St. in Utica, NY. Leo graduated from St. Francis de Sales School in 1941 and attended St. Francis de Sales Church. He was a member of the Nocturnal Adoration society and the Alumni of St. France de Sales school.

He registered for the draft on June 30, 1942 in Utica, NY. He was 5'-11" tall and weighed 173 pounds with blue eyes and blond hair. He worked at the Rome Air Depot in Rome, NY prior to being drafted into the service on September 16, 1943 through Utica, NY with service number 32944700. He was attending St. Michael's College in Toronto when he entered the Air Force on Oct. 7, 1943.

He did his training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Miami, Florida, Laredo, Texas and Tonopah Army Air Field in Nevada. He was sent to the Pacific in November-December 1944 and was a turret gunner on a B-24 bomber with the 394th Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group (H). He was decorated with the Air Medal at his station with the 13th Air Force in the Philippines in recognition of courageous service to his country. He was also cited for meritorious achievement in aerial flights from Dec. 31, 1944 to February 11, 1945. He was also was awarded the Philippines Liberation ribbon. His Air Medal card documents that he received his Air Medal on March 19, 1945 and again (Oak Leaf Cluster) on April 25, 1945.

In his last letter home, written on April 24, 1945 and received at home on May 6 he wrote he was well, had an hour a day to study Spanish and other subjects in preparation for return to civilian life. He also wrote there was plenty of sunshine and that he played volleyball. On April 30, 1945 he was aboard B-24M #44-41869 on a combat mission over Davao, Mindanao Island, Philippines when it crashed with another B-24 #44-41541 near Race Island. Only two bodies were recovered and only one of those was every identified. S/Sgt. Bender's remains were never found.

He was memorialized on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. In addition to his Air Medal and other decorations he was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55904172/leo_richard-bender: accessed January 3, 2026), memorial page for SSGT Leo Richard Bender (7 Jan 1923–30 Apr 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55904172, citing Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines; Maintained by MAJ Jimmy Cotton (contributor 48803557).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184620517/leo_richard-bender: accessed January 3, 2026), memorial page for SGT Leo Richard Bender (7 Jan 1923–30 Apr 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 184620517, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by TLyons (contributor 48816921).

Fold3, US, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1914-1950 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/853/us-american-battle-monuments-commission-1914-1950 : accessed Jan 3, 2026), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/853/us-american-battle-monuments-commission-1914-1950

"Former RAAF Employee Is Killed in Action", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, May 18, 1945, pg. 4

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Howard Browman (36725268), National Archivesat St. Louis, MO.; NAID: 330621018; Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General; Series: Individual Deceased Personnel Files

National Archives, US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Air Force Award Cards [Air Medal]: Bell, Dale – Bennesch, Frederick, Record Group 64; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration; Series: Award Cards; NAID: 138693770

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Various Morning Reports that document his stations in the service.  Accessed on line at the National Archives website by searching for his service number: 32944700

"Sgt. Bender Dies Battling Japs In Philippines", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, May 19, 1945, pg. 13

"War Department Lists Dead, Missing, Wounded", The Evening Telegraph, Herkimer, NY, June 2, 1945, pg. 5.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0094; FHL microfilm: 2341355

Year: 1940; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02860; Page: 64A; Enumeration District: 67-20

Supporting Documents