World War II and Korean War veteran, the late Leslie Maupin of Minot, will be honored on Saturday, Dec. 16, when the first wreath of the Minot Wreaths Across America program is placed at his marker in the Old Veterans Section at Rosehill Memorial Park in Minot. Maupin also served as Minot American Legion Post commander from 1947-48.

A program will be held Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. in Vincent United Methodist Church in Minot, followed by the wreath laying at Rosehill Memorial Park at noon. The program and wreath laying are open to the public.

John Sinn of Minot has been selected as the honorary veteran to lay the wreath on Maupin’s grave.

Maupin’s daughter, Michelle Carroll of Minot, said she and her family will be attending the program and wreath laying.

According to Minot Daily News files, Maupin, a native of Minot, served with the Army during World War II, from 1942-1946. He received a number of awards and commendations during his active years in military service both during World War II and the Korean War. He was a retired chief warrant officer with the Army Reserves, having served more than 23 years. Maupin was a frequent speaker at Memorial and Veterans Day services. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reserve Officers Association and the Air Force Association, and held a life membership in the William G. Carroll Post of the American Legion. He also was a member of the Minot Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.

Maupin enlisted in the Army and went to California to train in anti-aircraft gunnery, and was retained as an instructor until early 1944 when he was transferred to the Minnesota National Guard unit when it was about to leave for Europe.

In a 1981 story published in “The Greeter,” a city guide for Minot, Maupin said his unit was part of the U.S. Third Army – Gen. George Patton’s unit. With Patton, he said they moved around a great deal and moved fast. He recalled being with the first anti-aircraft gun to arrive on the banks of the Rhine, an occasion which gave him his first glimpse at the general himself. German air strength had dwindled considerably by the time Maupin arrived in Europe but his unit saw a fair amount of action. “We wound up in Regensburg (Germany) in time for the surrender, and the airfield there was designated as a surrender point for Luftwaffe crews and planes. Apparently many of them weren’t sure we were sure that the war was over because they would come in very low and very fast to avoid our guns,” Maupin told the publication.

When he returned from World War II, Maupin thought the war might not be over because of the way the Russians were acting in eastern Europe so he enlisted in the Army Reserves. His enlistment earned him a trip to Japan during the Korean conflict. He ended the war as first sergeant of his unit. Maupin remained in the Army Reserves until retirement.

Maupin was widely known as a result of his 47-year career in radio broadcasting, working for KLPM radio in Minot where he became owner-operator. He was also well known for his work in the interests of education. He died in May 1984 at the age of 69.

Sinn served in the Army during World War II. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the North Dakota National Guard. He earned several service ribbons during his service, including two battle stars and the Bronze Star medal.

He joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1957, working at Minot Air Force Base, Fortuna, Cavalier and other locations. He retired from the Corps of Engineers at Minot AFB in 1989. He is director emeritus for Minot’s Scandinavian Heritage Park.

The local Wreaths Across America campaign reached a total of 919 sponsored wreaths this year, according to Richard Reuer, public relations officer for the Minot American Legion Post and coordinator of the Wreaths Across American program.

The majority of the wreaths will be placed at Rosehill Memorial Park’s Old Veterans Section. Excess wreaths will go to Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. military cemetery in the Washington, D.C., area.