Father's Day, Graduations, and Summer! [Shameless Promotion]

[Ken Friedman]

June is the month for Graduations, Father's Day, and, in the northern hemispere, the Summer Solstice that signals that summer begins. My book, Morning of the Rising Sun: The Heroic Story of the Battles for Guadalcanal, makes the perfect gift for those persons who want to learn more what happened in World War II in the Pacific.

 

There are many ways to purchase a copy for that person whose occasion you wish to celebrate. It is available in printed and Kindle versions. Autographed copies by me are also available for purchase. All you have to do is go to my web site by clicking here where you get all the information you need to send your gift book on its way.

 

Here are the latest news about my book.

• You can order autographed copies of the original version of my book for $17.76. These copies are in limited supply and only available from my web site at this price. Once they are all sold, there will be no more available for sale. To place your order, click here.
• Reviews of my book are available for reading and download here.
• An advertisement appears in the June 2011 issue of Military Magazine on page 1. You can view a copy of that ad here.

Thank you to those who ordered copies of my book and/or visited my web site.

==================================
Kenneth I. Friedman, Ph.D.
Author
www.battlesforguadalcanal.com
www.battle-of-leyte-gulf.com
Blog: battlesforguadalcanal.blogspot.com
==================================

[Donald Weeden]

Ken - I have found it difficult to obtain any information about a
fellow pilot with whom I flew back in the period 1954-56, who was a
resident of California when he died in 1971. I thought you may know
how I could find out more about his military career than I presently
have as follows:

William L. Leitch, born 14 December 1924 in Loisville, KY.
Enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and was discharged in 1946. Reenlisted in
the Air Force Pilot Training Program in February 1952 and received his
wings in March 1953. Entered Advanced Training at Nellis and then was
assigned to the 496th FIS at Hamilton Field, CA., and was then
relocated to Landstuhl AFB in Western Germany.

From there he was transferred to the 461st Day Fighter Squadron and
then in 1957 went on to George AFB flying the F-104. Sometime around
late 1960/early 1961 he had to eject from a 104 and was told that his
injuries would require amputation of both legs. He said "no" and by
late 1961 he was back flying 104s and assigned to exchange duty with
the Canadian Air Force at Cold Lake AB in Alberta.

After returning to George AFB in 1963 he went to Vietnam for
consecutive tours with the 518th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the
522nd TFS.

According to a NY Times article in 1966, he returned to the States,
having flown a total of 500 missions over South and North Vietnam. He
was assigned to the Pentagon until his retirement in August 1969.

And then in 1971 he dies from a heart attack while playing golf in
California with his son.

That's where the story ends.

Bill is obviously someone quite unusual and for his fellow pilots
quite a hero. What I would like to do is fill in the gaps in his
career, find his family if they are still around and somehow give him
public credit for the role he played as a pilot and military person.

Are you in a position to help or tell me the process that I would have
to go through to learn more from the military?

Thank you in advance.

Don weeden

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[Ken Friedman]

Don,

You already have much more information about this man that I do. I suggest trying Google searches for the squadron and other units in which he served. Sometimes there are web sites for thes eunits that have contact lists or other way to reach other members of these units. You might also try web searches for the man himself.

Good luck.

Ken Friedman