LEONARD, EDWARD W.

Name: Edward W. Leonard
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force, pilot
Unit: 602nd ACS
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Winlock WA
Date of Loss: 31 May 1968
Country of Loss: Laos/North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 163800 North 1061000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A1H
Missions: 250+
Other Personnel in Incident: none

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730328 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

EDWARD W. LEONARD JR.
Major - United States Air Force
Captured: May 31, 1968
Released: March 28, 1973

Oh, how I missed Christmas! That was one day that seemed so empty especially
during those three and one half years in solitary. My hometown re-created
Christmas on May 4, 1973. The Yuletide chimes rang, the homes, stores and
churches were made festive for the occasion. It was the biggest celebration
this small town had ever had.

What a contrast with the memories of the nearly five years of imprisonment.
After being shot down while flying a rescue mission over Laos, I managed to
avoid capture for two days. While sitting in a tree, a Communist soldier
Iying in a hammock, looked up and saw me.

In the summer of 1969 for some unknown reason I was interrogated about a
possible escape attempt. They did not appreciate my answers and as the
saying goes, they tortured me until I was guilty.

I have no regrets over any of the twelve years of military service. In fact,
I regard my time as senior officer in the compound as the most important job
I ever had, and in the glory of the company of some of the most magnificent
men I have ever known. Those years gave me the opportunity to know how to
use freedom.

Boredom was the one thing I was not prepared for. I spent hours exercising,
praying and filling the hours with various mental projects. I had a
"patriotic hour". I recalled everything from my Boy Scout Oath to my
commissioning at the Air Force Academy. Then there was "story hour" during
which I imagined myself in various situations and acted the parts of every
character in dramas. Dreams were many and coming home has more than
fulfilled my fondest dreams.

December 1996
Edward Leonard retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He
and his wife Suzane reside in Washington State.

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