LEININGER EARL W

CW2 Earl "Lenny" W. Leininger was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 06/04/1982 at the age of 32.5 from Lymphoma
Cragsmoor, NY
Flight Class 69-33
Date of Birth 12/11/1949
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 175 AHC in 70
Call sign in Vietnam OUTLAW 15
This information was provided by Rick Meana, Colette Lemmon, SSN search

More detail on this person: Lymphoma"Lenny" served as aircraft commander and Unit instructor pilot out of Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta. To his family & others who knew the laid back and lanky pilot with the hundred-watt grin outside of Vietnam, he was "Wayne." Life after his return was based out of the Shawangunk Mountains of upstate New York. During this time he bicycled from New York to Florida with ever-present canine companion Rex riding along in an attached cart. On the southbound leg of their journey, our intrepid and self-reliant travelers caught up with fellow Outlaw Steve Showe. Back in New York again, the Huey was exchanged for a hang glider (65 pounds of sail and hollow aluminim tubing) and "getting air time" came to mean soaring at several thousand feet instead of hovering over a Hot LZ. During those years the small community that Wayne called home housed the launch site as well as a ragtag cast of characters that included pilots, street smart dogs, and occasional stray women. A wind-battered and ancient place of talus slopes and pitch pine, "The Mountain" suited him and remained a place to which he was deeply attached until his death. When in 1982 he passed on, a fellow hangglider pilot scattered his ashes over the take-off area with friends and family in attendance on nearby Bear Cliff. He is survived by siblings Stan, Cindy, Jeremy, and Stan's children Saul & Amy.

From: Rick Meana and Colette Lemmon

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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