Jacques Leyninger papers (MS.2013.015)

Biographical/Historical note

Jacques René Leyninger was born June 3, 1929 to Paul and Eugenie (Nesse) Leyninger in Cosnes et Romain, Meurthe et Moselle, France. The family was living in Ivry-sur-Seine, just outside Paris, when Jacques voluntarily enlisted in the Infanterie de Marine on June 25, 1947 at the age of 18. He was a member of the 4e Compagnie Saharienne Portée d’Infanterie de Marine. During his military career (1947-1963) he was stationed in Morocco (1947-1949), Vietnam (1950-1952), and North Africa (1952-1963). More specifically he was in Safi, Morocco; Timbuktu, Mali; Bamako, Mali; Soc Trang, Vietnam; Araouane, Mali; Algeria; and Sahara. While he was in North Africa, many of those countries struggled for and gained independence from France. He was assigned to the Cadre Méhariste Volontaire (Camel Corps) during 1957-1958 in the Sahara. He rose to the rank of Adjutant-Chef and retired in June 1963. His date of death is not known.