Commander of Army's 43rd "Winged Victory" Division, WW II. Graduate, Rutland High School. Attended Norwich University, studied law, admitted to bar, 1917. Enlisted for service in WW I, but was not ordered overseas. Received commission as First Lieutenant. Discharged, 1918. Returned to Rutland, practiced law. Rutland City Attorney, 1919-21. Rutland City Judge, 1921-25. Member, state Republican Committee. Chairman, 1925-29. Joined 172nd Infantry Regiment of Vermont National Guard as Second Lieutenant, 1919. Rose through ranks to become Colonel and Commander of Regiment, 1933. Earned praise from business owners and condemnation from laborers after leading Regiment in breaking strike of Barre granite workers, 1933. Executive Assistant, Governor Stanley Wilson, 1933-35. Promoted to Brigadier General and Commander of 86th Brigade, 43rd Division, 1937. Elected to Norwich University Board of Trustees, 1939. 43rd Division mobilized for service in Pacific Theater, 1941. Commander, 68th Field Artillery Brigade, 43rd Division, 1942. Assistant Division Commander, 1942. Major General and Division Commander, 1943. The only National Guard officer to command a combat division in WW II. Division saw action at Guadalcanal, Rendova, New Georgia, New Guinea and Luzon. Diagnosed with heart disease, but continued in command. Division played vital role in capture of Ipo Dam outside Manila, taking the city's main water source intact and breaking Japanese resistance. Division received Presidential Unit Citation for this action. 43rd Division served on occupation duty in Japan before being deactivated in October 1945. He took part in victory parades throughout New England in November and December and planned to run for Governor. Died of massive and sudden heart attack. Awards and decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. Son Leonard Jr. (1923-2005) was WW II veteran who was taken prisoner by Germans and later escaped to Poland before serving as Brigadier General and Commander of Vermont National Guard's 86th Brigade in 1960s. Leonard Wing Jr.'s daughter Joan Loring Wing served as President of Vermont Bar Association.
Commander of Army's 43rd "Winged Victory" Division, WW II. Graduate, Rutland High School. Attended Norwich University, studied law, admitted to bar, 1917. Enlisted for service in WW I, but was not ordered overseas. Received commission as First Lieutenant. Discharged, 1918. Returned to Rutland, practiced law. Rutland City Attorney, 1919-21. Rutland City Judge, 1921-25. Member, state Republican Committee. Chairman, 1925-29. Joined 172nd Infantry Regiment of Vermont National Guard as Second Lieutenant, 1919. Rose through ranks to become Colonel and Commander of Regiment, 1933. Earned praise from business owners and condemnation from laborers after leading Regiment in breaking strike of Barre granite workers, 1933. Executive Assistant, Governor Stanley Wilson, 1933-35. Promoted to Brigadier General and Commander of 86th Brigade, 43rd Division, 1937. Elected to Norwich University Board of Trustees, 1939. 43rd Division mobilized for service in Pacific Theater, 1941. Commander, 68th Field Artillery Brigade, 43rd Division, 1942. Assistant Division Commander, 1942. Major General and Division Commander, 1943. The only National Guard officer to command a combat division in WW II. Division saw action at Guadalcanal, Rendova, New Georgia, New Guinea and Luzon. Diagnosed with heart disease, but continued in command. Division played vital role in capture of Ipo Dam outside Manila, taking the city's main water source intact and breaking Japanese resistance. Division received Presidential Unit Citation for this action. 43rd Division served on occupation duty in Japan before being deactivated in October 1945. He took part in victory parades throughout New England in November and December and planned to run for Governor. Died of massive and sudden heart attack. Awards and decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. Son Leonard Jr. (1923-2005) was WW II veteran who was taken prisoner by Germans and later escaped to Poland before serving as Brigadier General and Commander of Vermont National Guard's 86th Brigade in 1960s. Leonard Wing Jr.'s daughter Joan Loring Wing served as President of Vermont Bar Association.
