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James DeLeon Jr., 90, veteran and mortician

James M. DeLeon Jr., 90, of Bensalem, a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a mortician for nearly half a century, died of acute dementia Monday at Paul's Run Retirement Community, where he had lived for 10 years.

James M. DeLeon Jr., 90, of Bensalem, a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a mortician for nearly half a century, died of acute dementia Monday at Paul's Run Retirement Community, where he had lived for 10 years.

"My father survived battles in the Philippines for three years and in Korea for 18 months and was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts," said his son James M. DeLeon III, a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge. "He was an old soldier who faded away."

Born in the middle of World War I in Sumpter, S.C., Mr. DeLeon moved to West Philadelphia as a boy. His father died when he was 12. Times were tough for his widowed mother and family during the Depression.

But Mr. DeLeon soldiered on. He was a star in track and football at Overbrook High School, where he graduated in 1936. He then played in a Philadelphia semipro all-black football team for 10 years.

Mr. DeLeon earned a mortician's license and began working for Morse Funeral Home in 1938. He also was a mechanic at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot.

When World War II broke out, Mr. DeLeon wanted to be a fighter pilot but was refused because of poor vision. He joined the Army and fought in the Philippines for more than three years in the 133d Tank Destroyer Battalion before being discharged in 1946 as first sergeant. He was wounded on his left side and awarded his first Purple Heart.

After the war, Mr. DeLeon married Thelma Steed, and the couple raised two sons in West Philadelphia. She died in 1984.

Mr. DeLeon returned to his two careers - at Morse Funeral Home and at the Quartermaster Depot.

When the Korean War began, Mr. DeLeon enlisted in the Army to fight again. He was part of the 30,000 United Nations forces, which included the U.S. Marines and Army, at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the winter of 1950. They were nicknamed "Frozen Chosin" or "The Chosin Few" under Gen. Douglas MacArthur and fought a brutal battle against 60,000 Chinese volunteers before retreating from northeastern North Korea.

After 18 months of fighting, Mr. DeLeon was wounded and shipped home. He was discharged in 1953 as a staff sergeant major and was honored with a Bronze Star and a second Purple Heart.

Mr. DeLeon recovered from his wounds and returned to the Quartermaster Depot as supervisor of vehicle repairs, and to Morse Funeral Home. He retired in 1995 from both jobs.

Mr. DeLeon moved to Bensalem in 1975 and married again in 1986, to Doris Parker, who brought two children to the marriage.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. DeLeon is survived by another son, Jerel DeLeon; a stepson, Warren Parker; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His stepdaughter, Sydney Simmons, died in 1995.

Friends may visit at 9 a.m. today at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, 2251 N. 54th St. A funeral service will follow at 10. Burial with full military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Lebanon County.

Donations may be sent to Paul's Run Fellowship Fund, 9896 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia 19115.