Leonard James McNeill

Leonard James McNeill was born November 3, 1917, at Prince Edward Island, Canada. He is the son of Seymour and Margaret McNeill and the brother of Duncan and Melva. Leonard and his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1926. He finished his education in the Sommerville Public Schools and received his diploma in 1936. He assumed a position with S.S. Pierce Co., a food service business that was ultimately acquired by Kraft Foods. Having earned enough money to purchase a 1929 Oldsmobile Coupe', Leonard McNeill was Inspired to change the world and impact millions of lives. It seemed to him that Florida would be a likely location for the success he was seeking. He arrived in Orlando, Florida in 1937.

In Orlando, Leonard found employment at the Greentree Diner where he met Melba Culbreth, the daughter of Jimmy and Florence Culbreth. Jimmy Culbreth had worked with Southern Bell Telephone Company from the Early 1900’s. Florence Culbreth was born in the city of Lawtey, Florida, where her father, Mr. George Carter, had been instrumental in establishing the township during the 1800's.

Shortly after arriving in Orlando, Leonard met Mr. Jack Holloway who ran a successful lounge at the San Juan Hotel, one of Orlando’s most prestigious hotels. Holloway offered Leonard a position of bartender. This started his career in the hospitality industry, and, despite an inevitable war, the two men began to plan a partnership for the future. Unfortunately, the promising plans would be changed after Leonard received his notice of induction into the army.

Leonard and Melba Married in Aug 1938 and began a family life with three children Paul Edward, Dorothy Ann, and Melvin James. Leonard was drafted, and on November 17, 1943, he would report to Camp Blanding, Florida for induction into the Army. His basic training was in Miami, Florida, and Gunnery training throughout the Midwest and Texas. Leonard was Trained as a B-29 Super-fortress Tail Gunner and with an 11-man crew embarked from Kearney, Nebraska February 14, 1945. The crew arrived at Saipan Island in the Mariana's February 25, 1945. Leonard’s crew performed incendiary bombing missions from March 4TH until April 2, 1945, receiving a commendation for those missions. On Easter morning 1945 the B-29 Z square 11 was caught in search lights while flying over Tokyo. The B-29 was struck with flak several times putting the aircraft into an uncontrollable condition. Aircraft commander, Lt. Law, ordered the men to abandon ship, as the aircraft began its final descent 10 men safely parachuted to the ground near Tokyo Japan. After Leonard was captured, he was taken to the Kenpeitai headquarters across the street from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. While imprisoned at the Kenpeitai the B-29 airmen were treated as suspected War Criminals due to the indiscriminate incendiary bombing missions they had performed killing more than 100,000 Japanese occupants of various cities during the March Fire Blitz on Japan. During the time at Kenpeitai, Leonard and the other Airmen confined in the pig pin and other animal stalls would receive beatings with sticks and other weapons along with psychological distress and starvation. Inasmuch as the men were declared criminals some were given a sentence of death and were decapitated.

Sometime in early May,1945, a number of American Airmen were taken from Kenpeitai headquarters and relocated for internment at Tokyo Military Prison, Tokyo, Japan. (TMP). Leonard is believed to have been in the group taken to TMP and confined in Cell Block#4. On the night of May 26, 1945, Cell Block#4 was struck with incendiary bombs killing several of the airmen. About 30 men escaped the flaming cells and began making their way out of the apocalyptic event. They were attacked by sword wielding jailers who cut the men down, until all American Airmen were dead. The bodies of the men were dumped into an incomplete bomb shelter.

At war’s end, while occupying forces were investigating the action, a conspiracy to cover the crime was discovered. Yokohama T-078 War Crimes trial revealed a list of 62 American Airmen believed to have been killed at TMP. Remains of 25 men were identified leaving 37 men from the list of 62 as unidentified. Sgt. Leonard James McNeill is on the list of 37 unidentified. But the death of Sgt. McNeill would not be the only tragedy. The end of the war would bring a plethora of loss and sadness, still being experienced seven decades later.

As World War II came to an end, Orlando, Florida would never be the same. My grandmother Melba McNeill and our family had realized the death of three of our finest men: Jacksonville Florida Cousin, Charles Gross (Bootsy) MIA/KIA Killed December 24, 1944. Bootsy received a Bronze Star for actions while liberating Europe and two Purple Heart Decorations. Bootsy joined the Army in March of 1941. He was MIA until 1948. Winter Park Florida Uncle, William Mashburn (Billy) Joined the Army early in 1941 he was a fine musician as he had a place training Filipino soldiers while stationed in Manilla. After surviving the Bataan Death March Billy died at POW camp Cabanatuan in 1942, he remains MIA today and is believed to be identifiable.

Orlando Florida continued to be our family’s home and as I was born there in 1963, it was not until 2016 that our family became aware of the tragic sacrifices made by those of us who have silently endured the MIA status. This has reached a point of action. We are Americans and Americans do not leave Americans behind; help us honor the loss and sacrifice of this GoldStar Family! As a Floridian with deep roots in the Sunshine State and as a proud grandson I hope you appreciate that I never had a chance to walk with my grandfather; I never got a chance to talk with him; I never got a chance to thank him for what he did for America; I never got a chance to tell him I love him.

With honor and pride Sincerely,

Michael James Krehl 850-653-5191