Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Leon
N.
Gorsline
DNB (1963)
1911-10-07

–

1963-01-08

Born:

Cheyenne

, 

Wyoming

Home:

Tyler

, 

Texas

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Leon Gorsline graduated from Tyler (Texas) High School and Tyler Junior College, and then attended Baylor University for a short time. He then attended Southern Baptist Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, but transferred to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Fort Worth. Ordained a Baptist minister at Tyler , Texas, while finishing his studies he served as pastor at Annona, and then was called to the First Baptist Church of Boston. In 1942, he left his pastorate at New Boston and enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain. After attending the Chaplain’s School at Harvard, he deployed to the European Theater of Operations for service in the combat, where he earned a Silver Star. In 1956 he was discharged as a reserve officer at Fort Carson, and moved to Canon City, Colorado, where he pastored the First Baptist Church. He subsequently returned to service and died while serving as an Army chaplain in Stuttgart, Germany.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Division:

    II Corps

    Action Date:

    February 1943
    Headquarters, II Corps, General Orders No. 20 (March 26, 1943)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Leon N. Gorsline (ASN: 0-487572), United States Army, for gallantry in action at Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, during World War II. On the morning of ** February 1943, Chaplain Gorsline, displaying unusual courage and attention to duty, volunteered, and did accompany another officer into territory apparently evacuated by friendly troops and under heavy enemy artillery fire. Chaplain Gorsline acted as a guard while his companion completed the destruction of abandoned antiaircraft guns and material. During this time he was subjected to direct enemy artillery fire, but remained at his post unflinchingly, thereby assisting in rendering useless to the enemy, abandoned material. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Chaplain Gorsline, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.