Sergeant Stephen Lesko was the sole USMC operator to be identified in Class #0, learning to intercept the katakana telegraphic code while stationed at the American Legation in Peiping (now Beijing), China.

     Stephen Lesko in Peiping in 1932 and on the roof of the HQ Fourth Marines building in 1937.

More information about Stephen Lesko can be found in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine (Fall 1984, page 16), in an article titled, “Stephen Lesko’s contributions Remembered,” by LTCOL James McIntire, Commanding Officer Marine Support Battalion, Naval Security Group Headquarters.

Stephen Lesko’s obituary was published in NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 06, Summer 1985, p.8:

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen LESKO, USMC (RET.), 76,  a life-time member of the NCVA, died 11 March 1985 in Las Vegas. Nevada following a short illness.

LTCOL Lesko was born 5 August 1908 in Reading, Pennsylvania. In September 1925, at age 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. In 1927 he went to Tientsin, China as an infantryman with the 3rd Marine Brigade, which had been sent there in response to the requirement for protection of American citizens and property in that country due to its Civil War. In January 1929 there was a sufficient return to stability for departure of the brigade; however, some Marine Lesko included remained behind and were reassigned to the Marine Detachment Peiping. When he joined the detachment, he was further reassigned to the 38th Company, Marine Detachment for duty. At that time a need existed for Kana intercept operators for duty at the Peiping site (Station “A”). No formal course of instruction existed before October 1928 (the date the Kana Intercept Operator’s Course was established in Washington, D.C.); consequently, personnel who were either assigned or volunteered for intercept duties were drawn from and existing complement of whichever activity an intercept site was located, and cross-trained in those duties. Lesko was the fifth such individual to be cross-trained at Peiping, volunteering for communication duties and subsequently trained by CRM Dorman A. Chauncey. He served a total of four years in this initial cryptologic assignment, eventually attaining the rank of Corporal.

He returned to the United States in 1933 and attended the Radio Materiel served as Operations Officer with the School at Bellevue and was promoted to Sergeant. Thereafter he served at Quantico, Virginia unti1 December 1934. He received orders to the Asiatic Station once more and, after traversing the Panama Canal and the Pacific aboard the USS NITRO he reported aboard the USS AUGUSTA, flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. While officially carried on the rolls of the AUGUSTA'S Marine Detachment as a Student Radio Operator, he actually worked in intercept duties aboard ship with RMC Fred Freeman. During June 1935 he reported for shore duty with the Headquarters Fourth Marine Regiment at Shanghai, China. Although designated as a Special Radio Operator his actual duties again, as with other Marines eventually assigned to Shanghai, involved intercept. He was the first enlisted intercept operator assigned to Shanghai when that station was activated and, during the period he was stationed there, he was the senior enlisted Marine cryptologist, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Following his return to the United States in 1938 Lesko resumed regular communications duties, advancing in rank to Warrant Officer in the Signal Supply field. World War II found him serving with the Sixth Marine Defense Battalion on Midway Island. He remained at that location until after the Battle of Midway, then returned to the United States to the Marine Corps Signal Supply Depot at San Diego. There he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He then received further orders in the spring of 1943 to report to the Naval Communications Annex in Washington, D.C., where he was subsequently given the task of organizing, training, and equipping Marine Corps Radio Intelligence Platoons for combat in the Pacific Theater. This endeavor was accomplished by the fall of 1943, in that seven platoons were activated. Of this total, five served in the Pacific, serving in whole or in part with Marine Amphibious forces in the latter stages of the Solomons Campaign as well as the Marshalls, Marianas, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa Campaigns. When not engaged in combat, the platoons became part of FRUPAC and its endeavors.

By then Captain Lesko although he did not have to deploy to the Pacific, based upon his previous overseas service, nonetheless led the first two platoons on the Solomons Islands on Guadalcanal. During April 1944 he returned to the United States for assignment to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. However, these orders were quickly modified due to a specific request for his return to Guadalcanal made by the III Amphibious Corps. He returned to the Pacific in time to re-lead the 1st Radio Intelligence Platoon in the assault and seizure of Guam. Thereafter, during August 1944, he returned to the U.S. and assumed duties as an instructor in communications at the Marine Corp Schools, Quantico, Virginia. He remained at this post through the end of the war.

Following the end of the war he continued serving in a number of communications billets in the Marine Corps. During the Korean War by then Major Lesko served as Operations Officer with the Provisional Signal battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF. Following his return to the U.S., he served at Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, California until his retirement in September 1955, with 30 years active service. Shortly before his retirement, he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Following retirement, and until 1969, LTCOL Lesko worked s an Industrial Engineer with Ryan Aeronautical Company in San Diego, California. He retired from the civilian sector and resided initially at Palm Springs, California, and later, until his death, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Interment with full military honors was at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania on 16 March 1985.

He is survived by his wife Anna of Las Vegas, Nevada; three brothers, Michael, John and Paul; one sister Mary Schonour; one son, John; and two daughters, Mary Bowden and Anna Starr.

LTCOL Lesko was a true pioneer in naval cryptology by having been both a member of Class “0” of the “On-the-Roof” Gang, as well as the virtual founder of the Marine Corps tactical cryptologic effort. He should be remembered for this equally as important, however, he should be remembered for the gracious, concerned, dedicated and generous person he was. He was an inspiration to all with whom he came into contact and will always be an exemplar of the title “Marine.”

Pertinent Data:

Born: 5 August 1908

Location: Reading, Pennsylvania

Died: 11 March 1995

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Interment Location: Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Kenhorst, Pennsylvania