LIEUT. JOHN FRANCES LEATHERWOOD, son of Mrs. Lillian B. Leatherwood, succumbed on January 30 to wounds received in France.
  Lieut. Leatherwood was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, a paratroop unit. When inducted in 1942, he was employed by the First National Bank of Mt. Airy. He was stationed at bases in Florida and Georgia before being sent overseas last July after receiving his commission.
   His mother and two sisters, Mrs. Raymond Simpson, and Mrs. John M. Wilbur, Nashville, Tenn, survive.

[The News, Frederick, MD, February 24, 1945 ]

MARYLAND WAR HERO RETURNED FOR BURIAL
   The body of a Maryland hero of World War II has been returned for burial in his native state. Lt. John F. Leatherman, son of Mrs. Lillian B. and the late Bradley C. Leatherwood, was killed in action January 30, 1945, in Belgium and interred in Henri Chapelle cemetery in that country.
   He was Inducted into the service at Fort Meade, Feb. 6, 1942, and sent overseas to England with the regular army. There he joined Co. H, 508th Parachute Infantry.
   Memorial services were held In Calvary church, Mt. Airy, March 25, 1945, in charge of the Rev. Ralph Sharpe, assisted by the Rev. Philip Edwards. Surviving besides his mother are two sisters, Mrs. Genevieve, Wilbur, Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. Helen L. Simpson, Mt. Airy.
   The body was received Tuesday evening by Funeral Director C. M. Waltz, Winfield. Lieut. Bernard Mackell served as escort. Interment Thursday in Pine Grove cemetery, Mt. Airy, will be private.+

[The Evening Sun, (Hanover, PA, 17 Dec 1947, Wed, Page 6]

Private funeral services will be held Thursday for Second Lieut. John F. Leatherwood, son of Mrs. Lillian B. Leatherwood and the late Bradley C. Leatherwood, Mt. Airy, who was fatally wounded in France on January 30, 1945. Private burial services will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery, Mt. Airy, in charge of C. M. Waltz, funeral director. The body of Lieut. Leatherwood arrived Tuesday, accompanied by Lieut. Bernard Mackell.

Lieut. Leatherwood, formerly employed at the First National Bank in Mt. Airy, was inducted into service at Fort Meade on February 6, 1942. After training at camps in Florida and Georgia he was commissioned and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, a parachute infantry unit.

Lieut. Leatherwood was buried in Henri Chappelle cemetery in Belgium and his body was among those that arrived in the United States last November 25 aboard the USAT Robert Burns. Memorial services were held in Calvary Methodist church, Mt. Airy, on March 25, 1945, by Rev. Ralph Sharpe and Rev. Phillip Edwards. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Genevieve Wilbur, Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. Helen L. Simpson, Mt. Airy.

[The News, Frederick, MD, December 17, 1947 ]

(courtesy Lynda Wright)

Application for grave marker and resulting stone for 2nd Lt. John F. Leatherwood in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Mount Airy, Maryland.
   John enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 6, 1942 at Ft. George G. Meade, MD.
   He volunteered for parachute duty and after completion of five qualifying jumps was awarded his parachutist wings.
   He was also chosen to go to OCS and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
   John was assigned as a Platoon Leader in H Company, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
   Lt. Leatherwood was with the 508th in the Battle of The Bulge when he was killed in action during an attack on St. Vith on the Siegfried Line. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
   His body was initially interred in a temporary cemetery in Henri Chapelle, Plot NN-10-179. After the war ended, his remains were repatriated at the request of his family.