MajGen Leo J. LeBlanc, Jr.
MajGen Leo Joseph LeBlanc, Jr.
Washington City, Utah - Leo Joseph LeBlanc, Jr., Major General USMC, passed away on Monday, 15 February at home surrounded by his wife and two sons in Washington City after a long courageous fight with MDS Leukemia.
Joe was born in Plattsburg, New York on 6 June 1930. He grew up in Chazy, New York in a little apple raising village 50 miles south of Montreal, Canada. Beginning at age 12 years old, he worked along side his father in their feed and saw mill.
When he was 5 years old, he and his father flew in an open air cockpit bi-plane, with Joe on his father's lap, to fly over Lake Champlain in New York. Joe declared after they landed that when he grew up he would be a pilot, and fly he did. To place himself on the path to flight school, he enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and was trained as an aviation mechanic. After a 2 year wait he entered flight school in Pensacola, Florida and earned his Naval Aviator Wings in 1951. He then chose to enter the Marine Corps.
He was sent immediately to Korea flying the F9F Panther Jet where he was able to fly 69 combat missions and then also served with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines as a Forward Air Controller.
In Vietnam he commanded two A-4 Skyhawk Attack Squadrons and flew 331 combat missions earning the Legion of Merit with Combat V, a distinguished flying cross, air medals with 2 gold stars and 1 bronze star and 24 strike flight awards.
Joe was a graduate of George Washington University, earning a Master's Degree in International Affairs.
He was commanding Marine Air Group 12 in Japan when he was selected for Brigadier General and was sent immediately to Washington where he served as the Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Chief's of Staff at the National Military Command Center and later as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation. After the Washington tour he earned his 2nd Star and commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at El Toro, California. Along the way he earned two more Legions of Merit.
Joe and Betty were married in 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland and sealed in the San Diego LDS Temple in 1993. They have two sons, Michael (Lisa) of Littleton, CO and Gregory (Teri) of Oceanside, CA. He is also survived by his brother, Russell (Norma) and sister-in-law, Barbara LeBlanc, all of Arizona, and nine grandchildren.
He and Betty served for many years in the San Diego Temple and served a proselytizing mission in the Portland, Oregon LDS Mission. They also served a 6 month stay at home mission with young singles in the Riverside, California LDS Mission.
They relocated to Washington City in 2003 where golfing was a passion for General LeBlanc.
A graveside service with military honors will be held Friday, February 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Washington City Cemetery (below the Community Center), 150 North 300 East.
On Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., a memorial service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located off Green Valley Springs Drive (west off Exit 10 of I-15 Freeway). Chapel is on the left about a mile and a half up Green Valley Springs Dr. on Great Falls Drive. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Please visit our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the missionary, humanitarian or education funds of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to www.woundedmarine.com.:iwo:
