World War II Honoree

Leonard Joseph Check

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Minot, North Dakota

Honored By

Frank Toth

Relationship

Fellow Veteran

AFTER HIS INITIAL SERVICE IN DEFENSE OF THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN, HE DEPLOYED TO THE EMBATTLED PACIFIC THEATER. FOUGHT IN SEVERAL MAJOR CAMPAIGNS WHILE THERE, SERVING WITH AIR GROUP 7. AS A FIGHTER PILOT, HE BECAME AN ACE, WITH 12 ENEMY AIRCRAFT TO HIS CREDIT. HE WAS SADLY LOST IN JANUARY OF 1945, DURING A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH HIS WINGMAN OVER LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.