Leslie Bennett Bridgman, 91, of Manassas, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
A native of Virginia, born in Dinwiddie County, Leslie was the son of Thomas W. and Grace Carsley Bridgman from Petersburg. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII enlisting in the Army in 1943. He was assigned to Patton’s 3rd Army, 80th Division, Regiment 319, Company A, serving in the European theatre. The 80th “Blue Ridge Division” was actively involved in all major actions of the 3rd Army including Bastogne and the Sauer river crossings. Leslie was in Austria with his A Company at the time of the German Army surrender. Soon after the German surrender he was transferred to Nuremberg, Germany and served as a war tribunal guard wearing the patch of the Big Red One.
After his service Leslie came back to Colonial Heights, Virginia and worked as Plant Mechanic for Allied Chemical, retiring after 36 years. Leslie spent 10 years living in Charlottesville before he moved to Manassas 3 years ago.
Leslie loved the outdoors, especially fishing, and as a sports fan faithfully followed Virginia Tech’s Hokies, pro football and baseball.
Leslie is survived by three nephews, Douglas Bell (Linda W.), Donald F. Bell (Beth) and R. Dennison Bell (Rachel).
A service of Remembrance will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, at Pierce Funeral Home Chapel, 9609 Center Street, Manassas. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts can be made to the Serve our Willing Warriors (SOWW) wounded warrior retreat in Haymarket, Virginia -
http://www.willingwarriors.org
.
Interment will be later in the day at historic Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia, at 4pm in the afternoon.