Norman E. McLeod

Norman E. McLeod served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The dates of service are: Known Jun 1916 - Jan 1919.

At just 16 years of age he joined the Plant City Rifles, Second Florida Regiment (National Guard) on 13 Jun 1916. Was mobilized on 19 June 1916 for service on the Mexican border. Returned to in late spring of 1917 after America's entry into the war and mobilized again as part of the 124th Infantry Regiment, 31st Division (known as the Dixie Division) and sent to Camp Wheeler, GA.

Norman chose to go to France sooner than the Dixie Division was scheduled to go and transferred to L Co, 103rd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division.

Norman's unit was part of the Aisne-Marne Campaign, advancing up the Marne salient and pushing into Belleau Wood, moving 10 miles from 18-25 July 1918. The Germans were heavily engaged in the use of mustard gas and heavy artillery along this front and the battles were furious and unrelenting.

On January 24, 1919 Norman McLeod's family received a telegram that read: "MR. R.D. MCLEOD, PLANT CITY FLA, DEEPLY REGET TO INFORM YOU THAT PRIVATE NORMAN E. MCLEOD, INFANTRY, IS OFFICIALLY REPORTED AS KILLED IN ACTION JULY NINETEENTH. LETTER FOLLOWS. HARRIS THE ADJUTANT GENERAL." The confusion brought about by the war had delayed the news of Norman's death. He was killed by an artillery shell not far from Chateau Thierry. He had been in the war less than a month.

Norman E. McLeod returned to Plant City one last time when his remains were shipped home from France, arriving 19 July 1921, three years after he was killed.