Veterans Magazine 2021 - The War in Korea

Leonard Kinsley
U.S. Navy
By: Will Oliver
Kinsley said he initially deployed with the USS Tarawa out
of Norfolk, Virginia, proceeding to see many different parts
of the world during his three-and-a-half year deployment,
including: the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, Japan,
Korea, Hawaii, San Francisco and Newport, Rhode Island.
He said he went on to transfer to the USS Midway, floating
back through the Mediterranean, as well as Cape Town,
South Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, Australia and New
Zealand. He mentioned crossing the equator on both of the
ships was a unique experience for him.
While the French were in what is now Vietnam, Kinsley’s
carrier floated just off its coast for some time before returning
to Hawaii, then on to Bremerton, Washington.
Kinsley was discharged in 1955, and he had no problems
fitting back into society as a civilian since the military taught
him valuable lessons like working well with others and
being responsible.
Following Kinsley’s discharge from the service, an air
intelligence officer spoke with him about continuing
his education.
Kinsley enrolled in Louisiana State University where he
studied forestry and also met his future wife. Following his
graduation, he traveled to his home state of Pennsylvania,
where he attended graduate school within Pennsylvania
State University’s forest management program. Kinsley and
his wife married in 1960.
Leonard Kinsley, originally a resident of Dushore,
Pennsylvania, enlisted in the Navy following his high school
graduation at the age of 17 years old.
He served on two different aircraft carriers for 10 months
each during the conflict with Korea, with his main duties
involving air intelligence and air navigation. Some of his
daily tasks included providing target information for pilots
deploying from their ship.
He received a job offer back in middle Georgia where he
worked with a woodlands company. He went on to become
a manager for a few years before he went into the business
for himself as a consultant forester for nearly three decades.
Kinsley said he has enjoyed his life and wanted to dedicate
some of it to serving his country.
“I’ll tell you,” he said, “I’m well-blessed.”
November 2021
The WAR in KOREA
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