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Gary Leib - Korean War

Gary Leib enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948, and after a succession of training schools and other postings, was assigned to the USS Boxer, an Essex class aircraft carrier, on the eve of the Korean War. The Boxer arrived in the waters off Korea in September, 1950, returned stateside in November, then sailed back to Korea in March, 1951. Among the many incidents he recalls, Leib describes his critical role in fighting a devastating fire that ravaged the Boxer in August, 1952.

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

Night Crash on Boxer

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Sailor on the USS Boxer, fleet aircraft carrier; Induction, training & early months off Korea

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Sailor on the USS Boxer, fleet aircraft carrier; Duty on USS Boxer off coast of N. Korea

Transcript

Related Materials

Picture Captions

Detailed descriptions of the pictures listed below


Photos

Caption
Aviation Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Gary Leib.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
F6F Hellcat radio controlled experimental flight from U.S.S. Boxer CV-21, appeared in Bill Harris's book The Congressional Medal of Honor.

Where:
U.S.S. Boxer CV-21

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator

Caption
Gary Evans Leib and shipmates photographing a radio controlled F6F Hellcat aboard the USS Boxer, off the coast of North Korea, circa 1952. An F6F is seen on the port catapult, and an AD4 is positioned on the starboard catapult.

Where:
aboard the USS Boxer, off the coast of North Korea

When:
circa 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Gary Evans Leib, Aviation Boatswain Mate 3rd Class. Photo was taken aboard the U.S.S. Boxer in Japan during Leib’s third tour of duty in the Korean War, 1952.

Where:
aboard the U.S.S. Boxer in Japan

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Landing of Corsair aboard U.S.S. Boxer CV-21. Arrows indicate rockets which the plane is in the process of losing. One of Leib’s shipmate’s was injured while trying to stop one of the run-away rockets, circa 1952.

Where:
aboard U.S.S. Boxer CV-21

When:
circa 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Official U.S. Navy photo of U.S.S. Boxer CV-21. The aircraft in the foreground are Corsair F40s returning from a mission over Korea, 1951.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1951

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Official U.S. Navy photo of U.S.S. Boxer CV-21. Pilot’s view of his approach toward the flight deck. Korea, 1952.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1952

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Official U.S. Navy photo of U.S.S. Boxer CV-21. Aircraft are Panther F9Fs returning from a mission over North Korea. Another aircraft carrier and a cruiser can be seen in the background.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
U.S. Navy U.S.S. Boxer CV-21 following return from her first tour in the Korean War. The photograph was taken as the ship passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on November 11, 1950.

Where:
beneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

When:
November 11, 1950

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Shipmates (left to right): Murl Laird from Sitkum, Oregon, Gary E. Leib, Dudley Kovairk from Omaha and Norfolk, Nebraska (deceased), and John Boden (deceased) from Greenfield, Ohio.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Officers and sailors decorations for bravery during the fire and explosions of August 6, 1952. Ship’s Captain, Marshall B. Gurney and war correspondent representing the Associated Press & United Press, for Edward R Morrow at far right of photograph.

Where:
Unknown

When:
August 6, 1952

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Gary briefly dated Teruyo Honda during his third tour to Korea in 1952. Teruyo’s family had been Japanese civil servants living in Shanghai during the war. Her own story was a harrowing one of survival and flight after the war.

Where:
Shanghai

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Gary Evans Leib in front of a fire ravaged airplane following the fire and explosions aboard the U.S.S Boxer CV-21 on August 6, 1952. Leib was credited with saving nine lives that day, and cited for bravery.

Where:
Unknown

When:
August 6, 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Gary Evans Leib in front of a fire ravaged airplane following the fire and explosions aboard the U.S.S Boxer CV-21 on August 6, 1952. This is one of the more than a dozen aircraft destroyed in the fire.

Where:
Unknown

When:
August 6, 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Shipmate Bill Johnson drew this cartoon depicting Leib’s reluctant departure from the USS Boxer on the occasion of Leib’s shipment home.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.

Caption
Shipmate and resident artist Bill Johnson, who memorialized Gary Leib’s departure from the USS Boxer.

Where:
Unknown

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
The citation Gary Leib received for bravery following the devastating fire and explosions that ripped through the USS Boxer on August 6, 1952.

Where:
Unknown

When:
August 6, 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s document



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