World War II Honoree

Leonard Gene Erwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sullivan, Illinois

Honored By

Rebecca A. Erwin

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED WITH THE 5TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 1942-1945. TRAVELED TO PEORIA, ILLINOIS TO JOIN FERRY SERVICE OF THE ARMY AIR CORPS. SENT TO SCOTT FIELD IN BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS. FROM THERE TO GOODFELLOW FIELD IN TEXAS DOING CLERICAL WORK. MADE CORPORAL AND TOOK CHARGE OF A CONVOY OF TRUCKS TO GARDEN CITY AIR BASE IN KANSAS FORMING SQUADRONS OF CADETS FOR TRAINING. HE WAS SENT TO SPOKANE, WASHINGTON AIR BASE AND TO GREAT FALLS AIR BASE, MONTANA. THEN TO VIRGINIA BOARDING THE USS GENERAL PERSHING. LANDED IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA AFTER GOING THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL. SERVED AT CAPE GLOUCESTER, NEW GUINEA AND TO NEW BRITAIN ISLAND. HE WAS IN CHARGE OF GETTING GASOLINE FOR PLANES FOR MISSIONS. TRAVELING ACROSS THE ISLAND, HE SAW GENERAL MACARTHUR MAKE HIS FAMOUS LANDING AT MOROTAI IN THE PHILIPPINES, THREE DAYS AFTER THE INVASION OF D-DAY. SERVED IN LEYTE, MINDORO, IE SHIMA AND OKINAWA. HE WAS ON OKINAWA WHEN WAR ENDED. BACK TO TACOMA, WASHINGTON ON A LIBERTY SHIP. BY TRAIN TO JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI, WHERE HE WAS DISCHARGED. SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVES FROM 1946 TO 1952.