- SURNAME
Leyden
- FORENAME
John Roger
- UNIT
3rd Raider Battalion (Company I)
- RANK
Gunnery Sergeant
- NUMBER
249877
- DATE OF DEATH
1st November 1943
- AGE
27
- GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA. Section 13, Site 884
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 10.05.1916, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
father John Edward Leyden (1847-1919)
mother Blanche Helen (nee Partello) Leyden (1876-1944)
attended Holy Comforter School, Washington, D.C.
1935 entered service
Next of kin - Sister, Mrs Marie L. Schurz, North 25th Street, Arlington, Virginia
KIA Puruate Island, Solomon Islands
posthumous Silver Star
DATE OF DEATH:
01-Nov-1943AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/leyden-john-roger.58417/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Gunnery Sergeant John R. Leyden (MCSN: 249877), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Third Marine Raider Battalion during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area on 1 November 1943. During the landing attack of the THIRD Marine Division, Reinforced, at Puruate Island, Gunnery Sergeant Leyden was in charge of a five-man combat team detailed from his platoon to clear the trees of hostile snipers. After the platoon had passed through an area under severe mortar barrage, he remained behind with his combat team, courageously directing his men in attacking and killing snipers stationed in that zone. Although he successfully accomplished his mission in the face of a terrific shelling by Japanese mortars and automatic rifles, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His courageous action in clearing the area of snipers was a major factor in the securing of our beachhead and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/37393FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49247703/john-roger-leydenSERVICE HISTORY:
LEYDEN, John R., GySgt 521/745/653/812(Infantry Chief) SN: 249877
Born: 10 May 1916 Washington, D.C.
Enlisted USMC: 10 Sep 1935 (Home of Record: Arlington, Virginia)
Died: 01 Nov 1943 (KIA, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands)
Interred: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA (Section 13, Grave 884)
Recruit Depot Detachment, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Sep-Nov 1935 Pvt, RDepDet, MB, Parris Island, SC "10Sep35; 11Sep, jdfr SDHS Wash., D.C.;11-30Sep, Oct, Nov, RI"
Dec 1935 Pvt, RDepDet, MB, Parris Island, SC
Prior Service USMC from Dec1935 to Sep 1939
See "Other News, Events and Photographs" section for the full Service Summary
Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH
Oct 1939 Pvt, MB, NYd, Portsmouth, NH "10Sep35; 2, Exp Enl, Char Exc, Awd GC Medal A1717; Ret 23 days GO 20; Assgd to Cl I(d) USMCR. Severn & Potomac Dist, MBNY, Wash., D.C."
9th Provisional Marine Company, Reserve Training Center, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Jan 1941 Pvt, 9thProvMarCo, RTC, MB, Quantico, VA "3Oct39; 16, jdfr HqDet, RTC, Post; 20-28, instn in Boat Eng Class"
Apr 1941 PFC, 9thProvMarCo, RTC, MB, Quantico, VA "1-19, instn at RR; 16, qual Mks; 25, pro"
13th Provisional Marine Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI
Jul 1941 PFC, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI
Oct 1941 PFC, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI "20-26, Fur."
Jan 1942 Cpl, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI "31, to 1stMarDiv, FMF, New River, NC"
Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, New River, NC
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co D, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, New River, NC "3Oct39; 17, to 1stTrngBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF"
Company B, 1st Training Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co B, 1stTrngBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF "3Oct39; 17, jdfr Co D, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF; 17-30, Actg PolSgt"
Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Reinforced, FMF, Marine Barracks, New River, NC
Jul 1942 Cpl, Co B, 1stBn, 3rdMar, Rein, FMF, MB, New River, NC "1-19, Actg Pol Sgt of Co."
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, In the Field
Oct 1942 Cpl, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, 2ndMarBrig, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Amer. Samoa)
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, FMF, In the Field
Jan 1943 Cpl, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides)
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1943 Sgt, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, 1stMarRdrRegt, FMF, In the Field (Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides)
Company I, 3rd Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, In the Field
Jul 1943 Sgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 1stMarRdrRegt, In the Field (Noumea, New Caledonia)
Company I, 3rd Raider Battalion, 2nd Marine Raider Regiment (Provisional), 1st Marine Amphib Corps
Oct 1943 GySgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 2ndMarRdrRegt (Prov), 1st MAC (Noumea, N.C. & Guadalcanal, B.S.I.) "2, exp enl; Char Exc, recommended for GC Medal Bar; 3, jdreenl USMC, reap PltSgt(OW); 6, Emb abd USS PRES. ADAMS at Noumea, N.C. and sailed therefrom on 7Oct43;11, arr at Guadalcanal, B.S.I. and disemb same date; 13, pro(OW);19, emb abd USS FULLER at Guadalcanal, B.S.I. and sailed therefrom same date."
Nov 1943 GySgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 2ndMarRdrRegt (Prov), 1st MAC (Bougainville, B.S.I.) "1, participated in offensive operations against Japanese forces in the vicinity of Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville, B.S.I.; 1, Killed in Action
Born: 10 May 1916 Washington, D.C.
Enlisted USMC: 10 Sep 1935 (Home of Record: Arlington, Virginia)
Died: 01 Nov 1943 (KIA, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands)
Interred: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA (Section 13, Grave 884)
Recruit Depot Detachment, Marine Barracks, Parris Island, SC
Sep-Nov 1935 Pvt, RDepDet, MB, Parris Island, SC "10Sep35; 11Sep, jdfr SDHS Wash., D.C.;11-30Sep, Oct, Nov, RI"
Dec 1935 Pvt, RDepDet, MB, Parris Island, SC
Prior Service USMC from Dec1935 to Sep 1939
See "Other News, Events and Photographs" section for the full Service Summary
Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH
Oct 1939 Pvt, MB, NYd, Portsmouth, NH "10Sep35; 2, Exp Enl, Char Exc, Awd GC Medal A1717; Ret 23 days GO 20; Assgd to Cl I(d) USMCR. Severn & Potomac Dist, MBNY, Wash., D.C."
9th Provisional Marine Company, Reserve Training Center, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA
Jan 1941 Pvt, 9thProvMarCo, RTC, MB, Quantico, VA "3Oct39; 16, jdfr HqDet, RTC, Post; 20-28, instn in Boat Eng Class"
Apr 1941 PFC, 9thProvMarCo, RTC, MB, Quantico, VA "1-19, instn at RR; 16, qual Mks; 25, pro"
13th Provisional Marine Company, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI
Jul 1941 PFC, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI
Oct 1941 PFC, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI "20-26, Fur."
Jan 1942 Cpl, 13thProvMarCo, MB, NAS, Quonset Point, RI "31, to 1stMarDiv, FMF, New River, NC"
Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, FMF, Marine Barracks, New River, NC
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co D, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF, MB, New River, NC "3Oct39; 17, to 1stTrngBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF"
Company B, 1st Training Battalion, 1st Marine Division, FMF
Apr 1942 Cpl, Co B, 1stTrngBn, 1stMarDiv, FMF "3Oct39; 17, jdfr Co D, 1stBn, 5thMar, 1stMarDiv, FMF; 17-30, Actg PolSgt"
Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Reinforced, FMF, Marine Barracks, New River, NC
Jul 1942 Cpl, Co B, 1stBn, 3rdMar, Rein, FMF, MB, New River, NC "1-19, Actg Pol Sgt of Co."
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, In the Field
Oct 1942 Cpl, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, 2ndMarBrig, FMF, In the Field (Tutuila, Amer. Samoa)
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, FMF, In the Field
Jan 1943 Cpl, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, FMF, In the Field (Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides)
Company A, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, FMF, In the Field
Apr 1943 Sgt, Co A, 3rdMarRdrBn, 1stMarRdrRegt, FMF, In the Field (Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides)
Company I, 3rd Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, In the Field
Jul 1943 Sgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 1stMarRdrRegt, In the Field (Noumea, New Caledonia)
Company I, 3rd Raider Battalion, 2nd Marine Raider Regiment (Provisional), 1st Marine Amphib Corps
Oct 1943 GySgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 2ndMarRdrRegt (Prov), 1st MAC (Noumea, N.C. & Guadalcanal, B.S.I.) "2, exp enl; Char Exc, recommended for GC Medal Bar; 3, jdreenl USMC, reap PltSgt(OW); 6, Emb abd USS PRES. ADAMS at Noumea, N.C. and sailed therefrom on 7Oct43;11, arr at Guadalcanal, B.S.I. and disemb same date; 13, pro(OW);19, emb abd USS FULLER at Guadalcanal, B.S.I. and sailed therefrom same date."
Nov 1943 GySgt, Co I, 3rdRdrBn, 2ndMarRdrRegt (Prov), 1st MAC (Bougainville, B.S.I.) "1, participated in offensive operations against Japanese forces in the vicinity of Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville, B.S.I.; 1, Killed in Action
Last edited:
