Kammala wannan jumla: Leonard ya kammala karatu daga Kwalejin Naval na Amurka a 1938 kuma an sanya shi a matsayin Naval Aviator # 6953 a 1940. Ya yi yaƙi a yakin Pacific na
Tekun Coral, Midway da kuma Solomon. Ya lashe Navy Cross a duka Midway da Coral Sea. An kuma ba shi lambar yabo ta Legion of Merit (sau huɗu), Gicciye Mai Girma, Air Medal (sau takwas) da Bronze Star.