World War II Honoree

Leonard Foulk

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Canton, Illinois

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

BLINDED DURING THE BATTLE OF ATTU IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS IN MAY 1943. WHILE LOCATING JAPANESE TARGETS, AN ENEMY BULLET SHATTERED THE BINOCULARS HE WAS USING AND DESTROYED THE OPTIC NERVE IN BOTH EYES. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR EXTREME BRAVERY IN ACTION FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF HIS MORTAR UNIT. IN OCTOBER 1943, AT AGE 26, HE BECAME THE FIRST VETERAN TO GRADUATE THE NEWLY FOUNDED GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR VETERANS SOON AFTER THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR.