SSGT Leonard Leo Brown (WWII)

Remembering SSGT Leonard Leo Brown (Fairmont)

June 22, 1921 - June 6, 1945

----

SSGT Leonard Leo Brown (Service Number 15320201) was born June 22, 1921 in Fairmont, WV. The son of George and Mary Catherine "Katie" (Gooch) Brown, the Brown family lived in the Quiet Dell Community on 310. George worked as a core maker for a foundry (1920 Census) and as a foreman for Domestic Coke (1930-1940 Censuses). The Brown family lived just a few doors down from the family of Medal of Honor recipient Woodrow "Woody" Williams, and a plaque at the WV National Guard Armory in Fairmont, WV, describes the duo as childhood friends.

Leonard attended East Fairmont High School, graduating in the class of 1941. No EFHS yearbooks denote activities for Leonard, but the 1940 Orion does list his nickname as "Lem McGee." It is unfortunate to note that Leo was not the only member of the EFHS class of 1941 to die in service during WWII. His classmates Howard Dodd, William "Bill" Layman, and Tom Knox also died in service.

Military Service:

Leonard entered the draft on February 14, 1942, age 20. At the time, he was working for the United States Aluminum Company in Fairfield, Connecticut. Leonard was 5'10" and 145 lbs, with brown eyes, blonde hair, and light skin.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on August 10, 1942, in Fort Hayes, Ohio. Leonard was assigned to the 62nd Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bombardment Group, where he served as a gunner on a B-24 Liberator.

On June 1, 1945, Leonard was wounded by multiple pieces of shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire during a mission. Their pilot was able to land the plane at Clark Field, but unfortunately, Leonard succumbed to his wounds on June 6, 1945 at the 249th General Hospital in Luzon, Philippines. 

Legacy and Survivors:

Initially interred at the U.S. Armed Forces Cemetery #2 in Manila, SSGT Leonard Leo Brown reached his final resting place in 1949 at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont, WV.

He was survived by his parents and five siblings (2 sisters, 3 brothers). Leonard's older brother, George (Jr), served in the Marines Corps during WWII.

Leonard's childhood friend Woody Williams never forgot him, the drill hall at the Hershel W. "Woody" Williams Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fairmont, WV is named the "Leonard Brown Memorial Drill Hall," dedicated in 2015. The 43rd Bomb Group Association wrote an article in 2016 about Leonard & Woody's friendship. 

He is also honored on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, WV.

Sources and More Information:

Articles:
Sources:
  • Air Medal Decoration: Leonard L. Brown
  • FamilySearch Profile: Leonard Leo Brown
  • Findagrave Profile:  Leonard Leo Brown
  • Hospital Admission Card Files: Leonard Brown (Accessed through Fold3)
  • IDPF: Leonard L. Brown (Accessed with help from the St. Louis branch of the National Archives)
  • Marion County Remembers Facebook Page: Remembering SSGT Leonard Leo Brown
  • US Army Enlistment Records: Leonard L. Brown (Accessed through Ancestry)
  • US Draft Card: Leonard Leo Brown (Accessed through Ancestry)
  • US Census Records: 1920 Census, 1930 Census, 1940 Census (Accessed through Ancestry)
  • West Virginia Death Certificate: SSGT Leonard L. Brown
  • West Virginia Memory Project: Leonard Leo Brown

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