Leonard C. Brostrom (November 23, 1919 – October 28, 1944) was a United States Army infantry soldier who was killed in action near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, now the Republic of the Philippines, during the Philippines Campaign of 1944–45, in World War II. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. Brostrom was a member of and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before he entered the Army.
Biography
Early years
Brostrom was born on November 23, 1919, in Preston, Franklin County, Idaho. He was the first child of Carl John Brostrum (February 17, 1894 – March 13, 1975) and Louise Adolfina Hillstead (August 17, 1893 – September 25, 1961), who were married on August 21, 1918.
Brostrum grew up in the farming community of Preston, Idaho, and attended primary and secondary school at the Oneida Stake Academy, built by the Oneida Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 1922, this school was renamed Preston High School even though it was referred to as the Academy for some time thereafter. Nathan K. Van Noy, another Medal of Honor recipient, attended the newer Preston High School.
Brostrum attended church at the Oneida Ward in Preston. During the depression years, he farmed, hunted, and fished while doing odd jobs for both pocket money and LDS Church service. His younger brothers, Dean (1921–1999) and Dale (1925–2003), often tagged along until Leonard served a three-year LDS mission to California. Brostrum was on his church mission when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After successfully completing his mission, he returned home and joined the U.S. Army in March 1942.
Military service
Brostrom completed basic training at Fort Ord, California, and was assigned to the 7th Motorized Division. Shortly after arriving at Camp San Luis Obispo, the division began training in the Mojave Desert in preparation for its planned deployment to the African theater.
On January 1, 1943, the motorized division was renamed the 7th Infantry Division (light). Brostrom and the other soldiers began rigorous amphibious assault training under U.S. Marines from the Fleet Marine Force, before being deployed to fight in the Pacific theater instead of Africa. Marine General Holland Smith oversaw the 7th Division's training.
Aleutian islands
Private Brostrom was assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division and participated in the amphibious assaults and retaking of the Aleutian Islands, Eastern Mandates, and Leyte.
Brostrom first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu Island's "red beach", which was the westernmost Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain. He landed with his company on May 11, 1943, spearheaded by the 17th Infantry, and fought an intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance.
Brostrom and the rest of the soldiers from the 17th Infantry were not trained or properly equipped for Arctic combat on Attu, for in those days the U.S. Army knew practically nothing about waging extensive winter warfare. Nevertheless, Brostrom and his fellow soldiers from the regiment carried on. During the battle, Company F's attack in the pass between the valleys was magnificent. The GIs used rifles, bayonets, and hand grenades to drive the enemy out of a series of trenches near the vital Cold Mountain. The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor, where the 7th Infantry Division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island on May 29, after a suicidal Japanese bayonet charge. The 17th Infantry then invaded Kiska expecting another serious fight, but Brostrom and the others of the regiment found out that the Japanese had evacuated the island prior to the American landing.
Eastern Mandates
The Eastern Mandates are part of the Marshall Islands where Brostrom and the 17th Infantry Division invaded Kwajalein atoll after four months of training in Hawaii. Under their new leader Major General C. H. Corlett, the amphibious assaults on the 42 islands of the atoll went "most nearly perfect". It is not certain which specific island (s) that F Company captured. The division returned to Hawaii for rest and recuperation, and then trained for the next assault.
Leyte
Leyte, the third-largest island of the Philippines, was invaded by the 7th Infantry Division on October 20, 1944. Brostrom in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry, attacked from the center, driving down the Dulag–Burauen Road. Within 48 hours, they had captured San Pablo, Burauen, and Bayug Airfield.