William F. Leeper

Jan. 20, 1920 - Dec. 27, 2006

Major William F. Leeper, USAF, (Ret.), 86, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 27, 2006, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born Jan. 20, 1920, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to Joseph Edwin and Gratice Dold Leeper.

He was known as Bill or "Wild Bill" (from his early flying days) to his family and friends. Bill served his country faithfully and with honor, beginning in August 1941, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in Ft. Des Moines, as an aviation cadet for pilot training.

Upon receiving his rating as a pilot and a commission as a 2nd LT he served throughout the United States, as well as overseas in Japan and Portugal. His Air Force career included: test pilot for A26, B17, B25 and B26, flying in air shows, TECH Intelligence and the Diplomatic Corp.

He was the Assistant Air Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal from 1955-1959. He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters.