Fred Merven Leonard was the fifth son and eighth child of Pierce Capers Leonard and Mary Mildred Bishop. He enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was initially assigned to the 161st Infantry. On 26 June 1918, he was re-assigned to the 101st Infantry, 26th Division, Co. K. As part of the American Expeditionary Forces between 12 December 1917 and 23 October 1918, he fought at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne. Fred was wounded in the right arm and hip by shrapnel on 23 October 1918 during fighting in the Argonne. He remained assigned to Co. K until 6 March 1919. He was honorably discharged at Camp Lewis, Washington, on 22 April 1919.
Fred eventually made his way back to Idaho and married Cora Inez Centers at Lewiston on 17 September 1921. Fred and Inez had five children, two of whom died in infancy. Over the years, Fred was bothered by his war wounds. In 1935, Fred and his family moved to Oroville, California, to join his siblings and father and to be closer to medical care. Shortly thereafter, Fred entered the VA hospital in San Francisco and Inez and the two youngest children moved also. In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, officials feared an attack along the California coast and decided to evacuate the VA hospital at San Francisco. Fred opted to go to Fort Whipple, Arizona. As his health continued to deteriorate, he was confined to a wheelchair. After many battles with pneumonia, he died on 1 November 1943 at the age of 47.
His body was shipped to Oroville, and his funeral was held on 10 November. That night his father, Pierce, passed away. Pierce was buried on 11 November since the out of town family members were still present.
Fred eventually made his way back to Idaho and married Cora Inez Centers at Lewiston on 17 September 1921. Fred and Inez had five children, two of whom died in infancy. Over the years, Fred was bothered by his war wounds. In 1935, Fred and his family moved to Oroville, California, to join his siblings and father and to be closer to medical care. Shortly thereafter, Fred entered the VA hospital in San Francisco and Inez and the two youngest children moved also. In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, officials feared an attack along the California coast and decided to evacuate the VA hospital at San Francisco. Fred opted to go to Fort Whipple, Arizona. As his health continued to deteriorate, he was confined to a wheelchair. After many battles with pneumonia, he died on 1 November 1943 at the age of 47.
His body was shipped to Oroville, and his funeral was held on 10 November. That night his father, Pierce, passed away. Pierce was buried on 11 November since the out of town family members were still present.
Fred Merven Leonard was the fifth son and eighth child of Pierce Capers Leonard and Mary Mildred Bishop. He enlisted in the Army in 1917 and was initially assigned to the 161st Infantry. On 26 June 1918, he was re-assigned to the 101st Infantry, 26th Division, Co. K. As part of the American Expeditionary Forces between 12 December 1917 and 23 October 1918, he fought at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Verdun, Aisne-Marne, and Meuse-Argonne. Fred was wounded in the right arm and hip by shrapnel on 23 October 1918 during fighting in the Argonne. He remained assigned to Co. K until 6 March 1919. He was honorably discharged at Camp Lewis, Washington, on 22 April 1919.
Fred eventually made his way back to Idaho and married Cora Inez Centers at Lewiston on 17 September 1921. Fred and Inez had five children, two of whom died in infancy. Over the years, Fred was bothered by his war wounds. In 1935, Fred and his family moved to Oroville, California, to join his siblings and father and to be closer to medical care. Shortly thereafter, Fred entered the VA hospital in San Francisco and Inez and the two youngest children moved also. In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, officials feared an attack along the California coast and decided to evacuate the VA hospital at San Francisco. Fred opted to go to Fort Whipple, Arizona. As his health continued to deteriorate, he was confined to a wheelchair. After many battles with pneumonia, he died on 1 November 1943 at the age of 47.
His body was shipped to Oroville, and his funeral was held on 10 November. That night his father, Pierce, passed away. Pierce was buried on 11 November since the out of town family members were still present.
Fred eventually made his way back to Idaho and married Cora Inez Centers at Lewiston on 17 September 1921. Fred and Inez had five children, two of whom died in infancy. Over the years, Fred was bothered by his war wounds. In 1935, Fred and his family moved to Oroville, California, to join his siblings and father and to be closer to medical care. Shortly thereafter, Fred entered the VA hospital in San Francisco and Inez and the two youngest children moved also. In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, officials feared an attack along the California coast and decided to evacuate the VA hospital at San Francisco. Fred opted to go to Fort Whipple, Arizona. As his health continued to deteriorate, he was confined to a wheelchair. After many battles with pneumonia, he died on 1 November 1943 at the age of 47.
His body was shipped to Oroville, and his funeral was held on 10 November. That night his father, Pierce, passed away. Pierce was buried on 11 November since the out of town family members were still present.
Inscription
Purple Heart, Idaho, PVT. 1 CL. 101 INF. 26 DIV. CO. K
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