Leo Cecil was the youngest of three children born to Susie Virginia Walker and James Whitmill Muckelroy. He arrived during the dog days of Summer, Friday, August 11, 1911 in Martinsville, Nacogdoches County, Texas, joining sister Willie Ada (1898) and brother R. E. (1902). His father worked a farm in Precinct 3, Nacogdoches County to provide for the family and the children no doubt helped with chores as they grew older. The family survived the great depression and by the 1940 census that was taken April 9, "Fatty" as he was known to family and friends had completed three years of college.(1)

On October 16, 1940, Leo registered for the first peacetime military draft in the history of the United States. His registration card (D.S.S. Form 1, serial # 1933) was completed at Precinct # 1 in Nacogdoches, Texas and noted the following information: age 29; US Citizen; and a student at Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College in Nacogdoches. Physically he was described as white, six foot one inch tall, 240 pounds with hazel eyes and blonde hair. "Wears glasses" was listed under obvious physical characteristics that would aid in identification.(2)

The following year on August 6, 1941, Leo age 30 married Miss Helen Irene Warren in Nacogdoches. Receiving his draft notice Leo was inducted into the Army in Tyler, Texas on November 20, 1942, eleven months following the United States entry into World War II. At that time he and Helen were living in Orange County, Texas and had completed four years of college.(3) The book "The Men and Women in World War II from Shelby County" described his miliary service as 'Entered Army in Dec., 1942, trained at Camp Chaffee, Ark. and Camp Campbell, Ky. Went overseas in 1944, served in Europe, France and Germany. Awarded 2 Battle Stars'. On March 13, 1946, six months following the end of World War II, Leo was honorably discharged after forty months of military service.(4) He was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars, Army Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Following the war Leo returned to Shelby County where he was employed as a teacher in a vocational school and his wife Helen worked as an office nurse for Doctor Warren.(5) Leo eventually retired from teaching and on June 9, 1988 died in Shelby County at the age of 76. Funeral arrangements were by Mangum Funeral Home and he was buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Center, Shelby County, Texas where wife Helen joined him in 2016. Leo Cecil was part of that "Greatest Generation" that truly saved the world. Day is done, God is nigh.

©By Larry Hume, VFW Post 8904, Center, Texas

SOURCES:
(1): National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1074
(2): National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1074
(3): Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.
(4): Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
(5): United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Shelby, Texas; Roll: 1613; Sheet Number: 72; Enumeration District: 210-9