Woodbury County

William Leedom

 

 

FOUR LEEDOM SONS PREFER NAVY

Rare is the mother who has four sons serving in the same branch of the armed forces.  So it is with Mrs. Lillie Leedom, 114 Bluf street, whose sons, Homer, Robert, George and William, enlisted in the Navy.

Homer, aviation machinist mate first class, a former Central high school pupil, is the youngest and was the first to leave home.  After enlisting May 14, 1941, he took boot training at Great Lakes, Ill., and went to aviation school at Jacksonville, Fla.  He was sent overseas in January, 1944, where he was wounded in a plane crash and returned to the Navy hospital in San Diego, Cal.  He is now an instructor at the Navy air station in Ottumwa, Ia.

Robert, torpedoman third class, 23, signed up 17 months after Homer. He also took his boot training at the Great Lakes and was then sent overseas, where he has been ever since. He attended Central high school.

In March, 1944, William entered the Navy and took his boot training at Farragut, Idaho. He received a medical discharge the following August and is now a motorman with the Sioux City Transit company.

George enlisted a month after William and received his boot training at the Great Lakes.  He was transferred to Norfolk, Va., and in October was sent overseas.  His wife and daughters live at 405 S. Howard street.

A brother-in-law, Pfc. Rufins J. Cruz, was killed in action in France, August 14, 1944. His wife and children reside at 114 Bluf street.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 2, 1945 (photos included)