Leon Kurzman
2LT in 3133rd Signal Service Co : Officer
ASN#32355905
Born 1914 in NY, Died 2001
County of residence at enlistment: Kings County, NY
Other residence(s): Brooklyn, NY; Queens, NY; Manhattan, NY; Fort Lauderdale, FL
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: salesperson
Leon Kurzman was born on February 12, 1914 in New York City, the third of four children. His father worked in, and later owned, a laundry. Both of his parents had been born in the Russian empire—his father in Ukraine, his mother in Belarus/Poland.
Leon grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, and, after graduating from high school, went to work as a salesperson. He voluntarily enlisted on October 26, 1940. His military history is not clear; he registered for the draft a year later, on October 1, 1941, giving his work status as “unemployed.” On June 18, 1942 he re-enlisted after his draft number came up, and completed 12 weeks of basic training at Fort Knox in the late summer and early fall of 1942. By 1944 he had achieved the rank of 2LT, so it’s possible he had the opportunity to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS).
He served with the 3133 Signal Service Company, and is believed to have gone to Italy with the unit. He was discharged on May 30, 1946 and returned to New York City.
Leon had married Lenore Bergman on April 4, 1941; in 1949 they became the parents of their only child, a daughter, Terry. By 1950 they were living on the East Side of Manhattan in the newly constructed Stuyvesant Town veterans’ housing. Leon had returned to his sales career, this time selling venetian blinds and table pads.
He continued his relationship with the Army; by 1956 he had earned the rank of CPT in the Reserves, commanding a Brooklyn company of Military Police.
Little else is known of his life or work. At some point he and Lenore retired to Fort Lauderdale, FL and spent the rest of their lives there.
Leon died on January 27, 2001 and his wife three months later. They are buried at Star of David Memorial Gardens in North Lauderdale, FL.
Sources:
1920 census
1930 census
1940 enlistment record
1941 marriage license index
1941 draft card
1942 re-enlistment record
1942 article in the Brooklyn Citizen (NY) about his military career
https://www.newspapers.com/image/543928658/?match=1&terms=leon%20kurzman
1950 census
1956 article in the Brooklyn Daily (NY) about his service in the Army Reserve
https://www.newspapers.com/image/576327278/?match=1&terms=leon%20kurzman
2001 VA death record
2001 Social Security death index
2001 Find a Grave record