Anthony Leon
Heroes of Camden, New Jersey
Anthony Leon — Hero of Camden, New Jersey.
Anthony Leon's Ship Ran Shells Through Jap Blockade to Corregidor
Camden Courier-Post —
A Camden man has been decorated by the War Department as a member of a submarine crew that slipped through the Jap blockade and took ammunition to Corregidor before that embattled fortress fell, it was disclosed today.
He is Anthony Leon, son of Abraham and Mrs. Olga Leon, of 1210 Morton street.
Leon, husky and now bearded, is a member of the crew of the Trout which in February sneaked past the Jap warships and delivered anti-aircraft ammunition to the defenders of Corregidor, according to Lieut. Col. Warren J. Clear, who recently returned to Washington.
Relieved Shell Shortage
“The shortage of ammunition at Corregidor was partially relieved by the delivery of a quantity of new three-inch shells and mechanical fuses,” Lieut. Col. Clear said. “The Trout had to sneak through a Japanese blockade to bring in the badly-needed ammunition.”
It was not disclosed at Washington whether the members of the Trout crew had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross or the Silver Star. Lieut. Gen. Delos C. Emmons had authority to make the awards but reports from Hawaii did not set forth details of the decoration.
A terse War Department announcement merely stated that awards were made at Hawaii “to members of the crew of an unnamed submarine in recognition of their successful performance of a mission for the War Department in enemy controlled waters.”
Evaded Jap Blockade
Inquiry by the Courier-Post at Washington developed the further fact that the unnamed submarine had slipped past the Jap blockade and delivered anti-aircraft ammunition to Corregidor. Following this information, Lieut. Col. Clear made the disclosure that the Trout was the submarine that performed the hazardous task.
Leon enlisted in the Navy in April, 1940. He quit a job at the RCA to enter the service. His father, a native of Russia, is an employe of RCA along with another son, Alexander. The elder Leon and his wife were naturalized in 1926. He has been working at the RCA plant since 1915.