Louis E. LeBlanc, Jr.

Louis E. LeBlanc, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on May 10, 1954, and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, New York, in July 1954. Sergeant LeBlanc next attended Airborne Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) School at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, from July 1954 to March 1955, followed by service as a B-36 Peacemaker ECM Operator and ECM Repairman with the 31st Bomb Squadron at Travis AFB, California, from March 1955 to March 1957. He served as an ECM Repairman with the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Travis AFB from March 1957 to October 1958, and then with the 4134th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Mather AFB, California, from October 1958 to January 1960. After completing B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training, Sergeant LeBlanc served as a B-52 gunner with the 72nd Bomb Squadron at Mather AFB from April 1960 to April 1961, followed by service as a B-66 Destroyer Defensive Fire Control Systems Operator with the 85th Bomb Squadron at RAF Sculthorpe, England, from May 1961 to July 1962. His next assignment was as a B-52 Defensive Fire Control Systems Operator/Tail Gunner with the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Travis AFB, California, from July 1962 to September 1967, and then as a B-52 gunner with the 6th Bomb Squadron at Clinton-Sherman AFB, Oklahoma, from September 1967 to December 1969. During this time, Sergeant LeBlanc deployed with to Southeast Asia and flew Arc Light bombing missions from June 1968 to June 1969. He then served as a B-52 gunner with the 2nd Bomb Squadron at March AFB, California, from December 1969 until he was forced to bail out over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 22, 1972.