LATE OBITUARY

It is with extreme sadness that we inform you of the passing of Retired P.O. Leonard Smith on May 12, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Lenny was born on November 2, 1924 in Harlem. He grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and attended Chelsea Vocational High School. He joined the U.S. Army at age 17 and had an illustrious military career assigned to the 761st Tank Battalion, which was nicknamed the “Black Panthers”. The exploits Lenny and the 761st were the subject of a book, “Brothers In Arms”, written by Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The 761st served in Europe as part of General Patton’s Third Army until December 1945. At one point the unit served 183 consecutive days in combat before being relieved. Their record was acknowledged some 33 years later, in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter awarded the unit the “Presidential Unit Citation”. Lenny returned to the Army and to combat during the Korean War, serving in the 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions.

Lenny joined the Transit Police in the mid 1950’s and served 20 years. After retirement he moved to Florida and then eventually settled in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Lenny’s body was cremated and his remains were interned, with full Military Honors, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. (Section 5-QQ Row 1, Site 3)

Notice of Lenny’s passing and obituary information was received from Brother Stephen Black and Brother Raymond Jackson on 7/3/05

Updated information on Lennys internment at Arlington Nation Cemetery was received from Mr. Ivan Harrison, Jr. on Oct 21, 2005