World War II Honoree

Leonard W. Pemberton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ramah, Colorado

Honored By

Mrs. Wanda Knutsen

Relationship

Cousin

32nd Red Arrow Division April 22,1942. Shipped to Camp Cable, Australia. He and the 2nd Battalion, 126th Infantry walked two months to cross the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to Buna. Being evacuated from Buna, he was one of the last two men to board the C-47 when an officer told him to wait as a chaplain and his orderly were taking their places. The plane crashed in the jungle. He participated in the Papuan, New Guinea, East Indies, Southern Philippines and Luzon campaigns. He was awarded five Bronze Battle Stars, Distinguished Unit Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and six Overseas Service Bars.