Our community buried more treasure today. Our last World War Two veteran, who happened to be a combat veteran, was laid to rest today.
James Leonhard was just 99 years old, just about as young as a combat vet can be (that didn't lie about his age). He was in the 87th Infantry Division, the Golden Acorns, and saw action in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany where he was on VE Day.
I only got to know James the last five years of his life usually visiting him twice a week in one of the local retirement homes as part of a church ministry. Until about six months ago I'd fetch catfish for Friday lunch and we'd share it in his room. It got so that fried fish was a little too heavy for him. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of our local history and was a joy to converse with.
James did not speak often or in detail about his WWII experiences. He told me on one occasion that he had seen things he did not want to recollect and I respected his perspective and his wishes and did not ask specific questions about the war. He did volunteer once that he had been a replacement in a company (December 1944) and at the end of the war only three were left of the "original" 155 when he joined it (he also informed not all were casualties but that most were wounded or KIA.
He was a pillar of our community and was known by virtually everyone and loved by most. The local American Legion Post members participated in his service and did a great job despite having to honor Jame's request that the service be modest.
They shall not pass this way again.
James Leonhard was just 99 years old, just about as young as a combat vet can be (that didn't lie about his age). He was in the 87th Infantry Division, the Golden Acorns, and saw action in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany where he was on VE Day.
I only got to know James the last five years of his life usually visiting him twice a week in one of the local retirement homes as part of a church ministry. Until about six months ago I'd fetch catfish for Friday lunch and we'd share it in his room. It got so that fried fish was a little too heavy for him. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of our local history and was a joy to converse with.
James did not speak often or in detail about his WWII experiences. He told me on one occasion that he had seen things he did not want to recollect and I respected his perspective and his wishes and did not ask specific questions about the war. He did volunteer once that he had been a replacement in a company (December 1944) and at the end of the war only three were left of the "original" 155 when he joined it (he also informed not all were casualties but that most were wounded or KIA.
He was a pillar of our community and was known by virtually everyone and loved by most. The local American Legion Post members participated in his service and did a great job despite having to honor Jame's request that the service be modest.
They shall not pass this way again.
Attachments
Last edited:
