Leonard F. Mason

Private First Class Leonard Foster Mason was a United States Marine who served with distinction during World War II. Born in Hazard, Kentucky, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1944. He is best known for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Guam, where he was mortally wounded while single-handedly attacking an enemy machine gun position that had pinned down his platoon.

Mason's actions during the landing on Guam on July 22, 1944, cleared the way for his platoon to advance. Despite being severely wounded in the shoulder and arm, he pressed forward alone, destroying the enemy position and killing the defenders before succumbing to his wounds. His supreme sacrifice and courage were instrumental in the success of the operation.

For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, Mason was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. He remains a symbol of the dedication and bravery of the United States Marine Corps during the Pacific campaigns of World War II.