Charles "Charlie" Leggiero
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5C - August 8, 2021
Charles
“Charlie”
Leggiero
April 5, 1920 - July 16, 2021
A veteran of two
wars, Charles “Charlie”
Leggiero went to his
eternal reward on July 16,
at the age of 101.
Charlie was born April 5, 1920, to Guiseppe and
Lena Leggiero in Rotterdam Junction, New York. After
serving in the civilian Conservation Corps during
the Great Depression he enlisted in the U.S. Army in
1941. Because of his skiing experience in upstate New
York he volunteered for the first mountain warfare unit
in U.S. military history. After training in the harsh
conditions of Mt. Rainier, as a member of the 87th
Infantry Regiment, he was sent to the Aleutian Islands
to stem the threat of the Japanese incursion.
After his return, Charlie trained with the newly created
10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colorado. He
saw action in the historic battles in the Apennines of
Northern Italy, the Po River Valley, Riva Ridge, and
Mount Belvedere before advancing through Verona to
Lake Garda thence through the Alps to Austria. For
his bravery and sacrifice he was awarded the Bronze
Star and an Oak Leaf Cluster. Charlie left the 10th as a
Regimental Sergeant Major and returned to Colorado.
In October of 1945, Charlie married Eleanor Vaughn,
the rancher’s daughter that he had fallen in love with
at the Catholic Church in Fruita, Colorado, and they
prepared to spend the rest of their lives together right
there in western Colorado. But world events intervened
again and Charlie was recalled to serve as an officer in
Korea with the 8th Army for the next two years.
Once again returning to the Grand Valley after
Korea Charlie spent the next 25 years working on the
Colorado River storage project with the US Bureau of
Reclamation. He was active in the National Association
of Retired Federal Employees and a perpetual member
of the St. Jude Apostolate.
Charlie was preceded in death by his wife of 65
years, Eleanor. He is survived by son, Chuck (Sue);
granddaughter, Aimee; four great-grandchildren, and
one rambunctious two year old great-great-grandson.
He also leaves on this earth many nieces and nephews
whose lives will be forever influenced by his humor, love
and wisdom. Among those remembering Charlie will
be the many, many youngsters for whom he provided
skis and who learned to ski from a true pioneer of the
slopes.
When in Vail, be sure to visit the statue of the Tenth
Mountain Trooper at the covered bridge over Gore
Creek. Remember the sacrifices of this group of young
men and boys and raise a glass to these rugged warriors.
Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 10,
at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Junction. A
reception will follow with internment next to Eleanor
at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers and if you want to make a donation,
make it in Charlie’s name to St Jude’s Children’s
Hospital at www. StJude.org
