Posted by XXXXXX on November 2, 2008:

George N. Leitner '48 No. 16690 3 Nov 1926 - 22 Nov 2007 Died in Abilene, TX Interred in Elmwood Memorial Park, Abilene, TX George Newton Leitner was born on 3 Nov 1926 in Arcadia, FL, the son of George and Margaret Penick Leitner. He graduated from DeSoto High School in Arcadia, where he was a member of the track team and won letters in football, basketball (allconference selectee), and baseball. Following a year at Georgia Tech, he was appointed from Florida's 1st Congressional District and entered the U.S. Military Academy in June 1944 while World War II was raging. George found plebe year not too difficult. He had ample time to engage in athletics and was the backbone of many winning company intramural teams. His laugh was a familiar sound in the hallways, for George never believed in the word "discouragement." At hops and picnics, he was always in the foreground when fun was in the making. With his eyes in the sky, George set his goal high and moved unerringly toward it. Among his many activities, he was a member of the fishing and skeet clubs and the Chapel Choir. He served as a cadet corporal for two years and in his first class year as a cadet sergeant. Concluding his stay in the first four-year class following the war, he branched Air Force and reported to Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX, for basic flying training in the T-6 Texan, followed by advanced training in the F-51 Mustang at Las Vegas (now Nellis) AFB. He graduated with Flying Class 49c and received his wings in September 1949. George's first flying assignment was with the 92nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Larson AFB, Moses Lake, WA, flying the F-86 Sabre on intercept missions. In March 1951, George was sent into combat with the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron at K-16 airfield at Taegu, Korea.  There followed a four-month period from 4 June until 3 October during which he flew 100 combat missions in the F-51.  These included close air support and interdiction missions, sometimes several per day, to heavily defended targets all over North Korea. For his heroic combat exploits, George was awarded two Air Medals and a Distinguished Flying Cross. As testimony to the hazards he endured, George was shot down on a mission to Pyongyang, the capital and most heavily defended target in North Korea, on 7 Aug 1951.  The citation accompanying the award of the Purple Heart reads as follows: "While participating in an aerial combat mission on 7 August 1951, 1st Lt George N. Leitner was forced to parachute from his burning aircraft in the vicinity of Pyongyang, North Korea. Taking cover near his landing place, LT Leitner was rescued from his precarious position by a helicopter. He was treated for injuries received at an advanced air base in Korea." After his very successful combat tour in Korea, George was assigned to the 58th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 4707th Air Defense Wing, at Otis AFB on Cape Cod, MA, in January 1952 to fly the F-94 and also serve as the wing adjutant. He finished his military career with a directed-duty assignment as Assistant Professor of Air Science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, under a USAF program to assign jet fighter pilots to AFROTC detachments in order to rejuvenate that program. He resigned from the Air Force in December 1957. George then joined the regional brokerage firm of Schneider, Bernet & Hickman in Dallas. In 1958, he and his family moved to Abilene, TX to open an office there. It was the city's first New York Stock Exchange member firm. George built a successful career through many buyouts and mergers between brokerage houses and retired from Merrill Lynch in July 2000. George continued his love of the outdoors all of his life. He loved to fly and owned an A-36 Bonanza for many years until poor eyesight in one eye forced him to give up his pilot's license. He loved hunting and was a damn good shot. George learned to fish at an early age with his father and uncles in Florida and never missed a chance to "wet a hook." He and his wife Tommye Ann owned a condo in Port Aransas, TX, and spent many happy hours there, fishing and enjoying the beach. George also played golf avidly. In May 2007, he shot a 78, two under his age. Kidney failure forced George on dialysis in 2001. Although he had dialysis every Monday, Wednesday, Friday; on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, he was on the golf course, unless, of course, he could be fishing. Dialysis changed his life, but it did not stop it. Instead of seeing kidney failure as a reason to die, George saw dialysis as a blessing to keep him alive. He loved life and frequently could be heard to say, "It's great to be alive!" He and Tommye Ann continued to travel and enjoy life. George had a beautiful voice and would break into song at any opportunity, or sometimes any in-opportunity. George suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on 22 Nov 2007 in Abilene, TX. George married Peggy Winfrey at West Point in the Cadet Chapel on graduation day in June 1948.  They had four children: George William Leitner, Garrie Leitner, Susan Leitner Blume, and Marion Leitner Schmidt. In October 1988, he married Tommye Ann Moore and gained two stepchildren: Mara Moore Barham and Doug Moore. He has seven grandchildren. He and his wife, Tommye Ann, enjoyed many happy family occasions and reunions. George epitomized the West Point motto of Duty, Honor, Country. He took as his personal creed to "do the harder right instead of the easier wrong." He had a positive influence on countless people because of his integrity and unquestioned honesty. He was a true hero and caused many to say, "I'm a better person for having known George Leitner." -Wife and classmates

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