Leon Harold Sapanas was born on 18 January 1927. He was the son of Nicolas “Nick” Sapanas and Bessie Iris Moore. His father was an imigrant from Greece.
Leon Sapanas was killed on board the U.S.S. Curtiss (AV-4) due to enemy action. His remains were transferred to the U.S.S. Gosper APA-170 for burial. He is buried at Rocky Hill Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.
Was listed as MIA. Body recovered July 9, 1945.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 24, 1945
Seaman First Class Harold Leon Sapanas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Sapanas, Route 14, was killed in action in June, his family has been notified. Seaman Sapanas had been in service two years and overseas 21 months. He saw action in most of the Pacific battles. He attended school at Blue Grass and Harrison – Chilhowee Baptist Academy, and was a member of Rock Hill Baptist Church. He was employed by his parents at the New Market Lunch on Market Square.
Besides his parents, he is survivied by one brother, Letheris Sapanas, with the Navy in the Pacific; and five sisters, Mrs. Lucile Henderson and Christine Sapanas, of Baltimore, Md., and Helen, Betty Jo and Marilyn of Knoxville.
- Rank: Seaman First Class
- Date of birth: 18 January 1927
- Date of death: 21 June 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: USS Curtiss (AV-4)
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Rocky Hill Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Leon H. Sapanas
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