About The Webmaster

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About The Webmaster

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Ron Leonard

I was born in Berkeley California on May 23,1946 and was raised in the bay area until 6th grade when my family moved to Tigard Oregon. I attended David Douglas High School, Eastern Oklahoma State University, and Portland State University, where I was an engineering major.

I was always the littlest guy in school, so I had to get tough or die. My physical stature was perfect to be a jockey, and my love of horses made it the logical thing to do. I could be an engineer anytime.

I spent many years riding in Oregon, Washington, Canada, and Montana, where I had good success and won lots of races but very few of the high profile ones.

I was drafted into the Army in August of 1967, attending basic training at Ft Polk Louisiana, then going on to Ft. Rucker for AIT.

I was sent to Vietnam Mar 7, 1968, where I spent 13 months and derosed on April 8 1969. I called it my (tropical vacation:)

I was assigned to B.Co. 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division,Cu Chi Vietnam. While there I met many men, and you are the reason I am doing this page. I have a bad case of PTSD, and this is my therapy. It forces me to look the beast in the eye and kill it.

While there I did my part. I logged over 1000 combat hours in gunships, was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, an Air Medal with 30 clusters or so, an Arcom, a Purple Heart, and nightmares. I was shot down twice, and had a midair collision with a Cobra and walked away. To this day, I don't understand why anyone involved in that incident is alive.

I wouldn't do it again for a million dollars, but then I wouldn't take a million dollars for what I learned about myself, and mankind as a whole.

I have been a computer nut for the last 20 years, working in the Petro Chemical Industry and Defense industires as a Structural Designer using all kinds of medium from a pencil to Autocad, Visual Basic, and Catia. Since 2000 I have been the webmaster for 25th Aviation.org , and for the past three years, Alaska Airplane Maintenance, Veterans Aviation Outreach, WL Howard.com, and TF Diamondhead for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.