World War II Honoree

Leoland Ray Osburn

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

North Miami, Oklahoma

Honored By

Doris, David, Deborah, Larry and Nancy

Relationship

Wife and Children

JOINED THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT AGE 18 IN APRIL 1944. HE TRAINED IN SAN DIEGO ABOARD THE DESTROYER USS KENNISON. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ABOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP USS BLADEN. HE WAS IN ACTION IN THE BATTLES OF OKINAWA AND IWO JIMA. HE RECEIVED TWO STARS. HE WENT ASHORE ON JAPAN'S SHIKOKU ISLAND LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY. HE WAS DISCHARGED AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS IN 1946.