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T/5 Edward K. Bloomfield enlisted in Altoona, Pennsylvania on 6 April 1943.

He attended Altoona High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

The Corps Commander planned to come in from behind and drive from the east to the west after the armor swept to positions north and east of Leipzig from which they could block reinforcements. The 272nd Regiment was to swing into position south so as to drive into the city in a northwesterly direction. Because of the resistance encountered in Paunsdorf and the cratered road conditions, forward movement was difficult for the 272nd. The plan was to have the 2nd Battalion attack generally along the main road leading into Leipzig and the 1st Battalion to move parallel to them on the road just south of the main road. 2nd Battalion ran into resistance at an underpass which was reduced by small-arms, machine gun, mortar, tank and artillery fire. At 1530, heavy resistance was met by both battalions. In view of the resistance received, it was necessary to launch a coordinated attack into the city. The advance was slow. Each battalion attacked with two companies abreast, with tanks supporting the north or right company in each battalion.
The advance continued against sniper resistance, with the tanks spearheading, protected by the infantry. By 1900, both battalions arrived at which time reorganization was initiated and the position consolidated.
At 1900, orders were issued for the 2nd Battalion to form a task force consisting of tanks and infantry to move through the city as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, both battalions continued their attack with 2nd Battalion continuing to receive heavy resistance in its areas and their tanks ran into roadblocks.
At 2005, the 2nd Battalion, after extricating themselves from the roadblocks and other debris in the streets, encountered heavy enemy sniper and panzerfaust fire in the vicinity of the railroad station. The tanks maneuvered to overcome this resistance. One tank was knocked out by panzerfaust fire, and although there was some moonlight, it became so dark within the streets and between buildings that the snipers could not be seen. One of the tanks entered into the railroad station and fired at snipers inside its rooms in an attempt to drive them out into the streets so that they could be engaged by the riflemen who had accompanied the tanks. The firefight lasted for two hours, and the tanks then withdrew and started reconnaissance for a route around the station to bypass the remaining resistance.

It was during the fight for Leipzig that T/5 Bloomfield was killed.