Sgt Leon Padelskas USMC HQ-2-24-4

 Sept 1923 - Sept 2007

Bronze Star

     

A temporary memorial on top of Mt Suribachi on March 11 2008 by Harlan Glenn. Iwo Jima and Leon's comrades were never far from his mind. His ashes were scattered on Mt Suribachi so that he could be reunited with his fallen comrades.  We are forever in his debt for this great honor he did Leon.

We would like make a special mention of Sgt. Maj. Robert E. Mastriano, without who Harlan's trip to Iwo Jima and the Honor of Leon's memorial would not have been possible.

The picture and video below are of the temporary memorial and ceremony for Sgt. Leon Padell on Mt Suribachi

 Harlan Glenn/Matt Yarowsky/Andrew B. Parke/Bill Rogin/Rogin Entertainment.

 

                                     

                             

                             

Leon Padell's Memorial Service in Tampa Florida in September 2007. Flag is presented to Naomi his widow. Picture below is Leon's family, wife Naomi, children Susan, Jeffrey, Andrew.

                             

PADELL, Leon M, 83, of Tampa, FL passed away Saturday, September 8, 2007. Born on his family tobacco farm outside Hartford, CT. He served with distinction in WWII with the 4th Marine Division on Saipan and Iwo Jima. See more about Leon and his USMC unit at www.hq224usmc.com. A Third Degree Mason and a member of the American Legion, Post 152. A graduate of Boston University in 1948. He excelled at Burroughs Corp for 17 years then followed his entrepreneurial spirit to launch several successful businesses, including Financial Data Service and Legal Data Systems. He enjoyed life in Boston, MA and his vacation homes on the Cape and Sebago Lake, Maine. In 1990 he retired to Tampa where he and Naomi, his wife, and son Andrew owned Filterfresh Coffee Service of Tampa.

Leon is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Naomi; four children: Jeff Padell and wife Sue, Andrew Padell and wife JoAnn, Tom Padell and wife Nancy, and Susan Labonte and husband Rob; eight grandchildren: Joe, Eli, Dan, Sean, Lindsay, Robert, Rachel, Rene. Leon was a devoted, adoring husband, a loving father and grandfather, a proud Marine, a dedicated businessman, and an avid golfer and tennis player.

Friends are invited to attend a gathering from 2-5 PM, with Memorial Service at 3 PM on Friday, September 14th at the Blount & Curry Funeral Home West Chapel (corner of W. Hillsborough Ave. & Silvermill Dr.). Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA, at a later date. The family wishes to express their thanks to the caring staff of West Bay Rehab Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, PO Box 420, Quantico, VA 22134. Offer online condolences at www.blountcurry.com

Some of Leon Padell's ashes were taken back to Iwo Jima and scattered on Mt Suribachi by the flag raising site. The remainder were interred at St Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury Massachusetts. Here is the footstone and the cemetery bench for Sgt Leon Padell.