J.J. Leist---------MAY 1, 1935 – JUNE 22, 2009

J.J. was born in 1935 in Ohio. In 1952, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and made it his
career, retiring in 1973 with the rank of MSgt and the title of Cryptologic/Electronic
Warfare Chief, MOS 2578.

After boot camp, J.J. attended Radio Telegraph Operators School, graduating in 1954.
From 1954 through 1956, he served with the 12th. Marine Regiment in Japan. From 1956
until 1958, he was aboard the USS McKinley (AGC-7). In 1958, he was transferred to 2nd.
Radio Battalion at Camp Gieger, NC. From there, he spent three years (1959-1962) at
Little Creek, VA. In 1963, he joined what was then 1st. Composite Radio Company where
we first met J.J. His tour lasted until 1967. In 1967, he was transferred to Company A, Ft.
Meade, MD and then finished his career with Company L, stationed at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba from 1970 until 1973.

While with 1st. Composite Radio Company, J.J. served at Phu Bai, Republic of South
Vietnam with several of us. He returned to SVN with 1st Radio Battalion in 1965 and
remained there until 1967, where he participated in the battles of Operation Starlite
(Starlight) and Operation Harvest Moon.

Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps, J.J. attended the University of Southern
Mississippi from 1973 until 1979. He undertook a second career in the Defense and Space
industry as an Electronics Design Engineer.

J.J. was an avid Ham Radio Operator with the call sign KB5W. His wife preceeded him
in death on March 29, 2004. J.J., you will be greatly missed by your Marine brothers.