World War II
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Fallen
Circumstances:
On October 25 & 26, 1942, less than two weeks after landing on Guadalcanal, the 164th Infantry Regiment would become involved in the heaviest fighting of the Guadalcanal Campaign after the Japanese launched a surprise offensive. The 164th Infantry Regiment held key sectors around Henderson Field and repelled the attacking Japanese forces. Members of the 164th Regiment killed over 1,500 of the attacking Japanese forces while suffering 26 Killed in Action, including Cpl. Leithold.
Biography:
Corporal Jack Leithold was born in Mandan, ND on March 16, 1919.
Cpl. Jack Leithold served with honor in the United States Army. He entered service at Dickinson, North Dakota on 02-10-1941. He was assigned to the 164th Infantry Regiment. He served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.
The 164th Infantry Regiment, an activated regiment of the North Dakota National Guard, was reorganized from the 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry in 1917 and was the first United States Army unit on Guadalcanal.
On October 13, 1942, the 164th Infantry Regiment landed at Kokum Beach on the Island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands chain. The 164th Regiment was to reinforce the 1st Marine Division which was deployed along the Henderson Field Airstrip. Just one day later, on October 14, 1942, patrols from the 164th Infantry Regiment engaged Japanese patrols defending Henderson Field.
Cpl. Leithold attended Dickinson State Teachers College (later Dickinson State University) before being sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. It was said that he was very nice and very shy. He was one of the only young men who worked in the school's cafeteria and was always gently teased by the female students.
He is buried in Block 23, Grave 1, Section 2 in First Lutheran Cemetery, Elgin, ND.