World War II Honoree

Leland E. Baumbach

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

North Hollywood, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a Aerial Gunner/Radio Technician, aboard the PBJ-1H AKA: Love Bug Patrol Bomber, and based at Stickell Airfield, Location: Eniwetok Atoll, Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His unit was the Marine Squadron Six-Thirteen AKA: VMB-613 Squadron, Marine Air Group-31 and Fourth Marine Air Wing. February 6, 1945 the squadron departed Eniwetok on a bombing mission against the Japanese airfield on Pohnpei Island, Senyavin Islands. As the Pilot approached the target, the bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft ground fire, crashing near the airfield. Japanese forces buried the crew in a mass grave on the Island. His remains were repatriated from Pohnpei Island, with burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay, Missouri on June 10, 1949 with Military Honors. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.