Faatumu le fuaiupu lenei: Na fanau Leonard E. Rea iā Mati 14, 1897, i Auburn i Niu Ioka, ma ina ua uma ona faauu mai le aʻoga maualuga, na ia filifili ai e auai i le vaega a le United States Marine Corps iā Aperila 19, 1917. Ina ua uma le aʻoaʻoga faavae, na tofia loa Rea i le 17th Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, na tofia i le Philadelphia Navy Yard. Na ia malaga atu i Falani i le taimi lava na faatoʻagaina ai le regiment ma taunuu ai i Saint-Nazaire ia Iulai 1917. Na siitia Rea i le tulaga o le kapeteni ma maua ai le pine a le Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal mo lana auaunaga. Na auina atu o ia i le vaega o Toulon e lata ane i Verdun iā Mati 1918 ma mulimuli ane auai i le
Taua i Belleau Wood ma Soissons.