LEHTO WAYNE LAYNE

CPT Wayne "Leslie" Layne Lehto was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 01/25/2006 at the age of 62.8 from Cancer
Durham, NC
Flight Class 69-42
Date of Birth 04/11/1943
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with HHC/52 CAB in 66-67, 361 AWC in 70-71
Call signs in Vietnam DRAGON 11, PANTHER 10, PANTHER 36
This information was provided by Wayne Lehto (son), Mike Sheuerman

More detail on this person: CancerWayne L Lehto of Durham, NC passed away January 25th after a six year running gun battle with cancer. Wayne served two tours in Vietnam, the first as an Infantry Officer and the second as a Cobra pilot in the 361st ACE/AWC "Pink Panthers" from 5/70 to 5/71. Wayne was an outstanding officer and excellent pilot, hard nosed and gruff, but always a mentor to the younger pilots in the unit. His Awards and Decorations include a Silver Star, a Distinguished Flying Cross, numerous awards of the Air Medal and all the " I Been There " medals. Wayne attended Flight Class 69-42. He had hoped for a Chinook transition out of flight school but received a Snake transition instead. He never tired of telling his fellow Panthers and all his friends it was the best thing that ever happened in his military career.

Wayne attended his first VHPA reunion in DC in 2000. He was hesitant to come at first but thoroughly enjoyed seeing his old friends and making new ones. He joined VHPA shortly after the reunion and was a regular till his health problems side lined him in early 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Dianna ( Dee ), a son, Wayne JR and his wife, daughters Sandra, Stephanie and Janae and their husbands, six grand children, five brothers and six sisters. Wayne will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on February 22nd with full military honors. He was a warrior extraordinaire.

From: "Mike Sheuerman"

Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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