Leo Francis Adams was born October 27, 1918 in Redfield, NY to Jay C. Adams (1885-1933) and Helena [Lena] Lagoe (1882-1933). His parents were both from New York and were married on November 3, 1915 in Camden, NY. It was a second marriage for both of them having both been widowed. Leo was their middle child with an older brother Edward and a younger brother Floyd. The 1930 US Census recorded the family living on a farm in Redfield, NY. His dad owned the farm. Both his parents died when he was 15 years old which coincides with when he left high school.

Life for a farmer, especially during the Depression, was very difficult, even more so when you lose both your parents. There are a few snippets of Leo in the local papers that shed some light on his life. In July 1937, in the North Osceloa section of the Advanced Journal, Camden, NY paper his brother Edward and he are reported cutting their hay on the Willamstown road. In that same paper, on Oct. 20, 1938 he was reportedly fined $5 for driving without a license.

On September 16, 1940 President Roosevelt established the first peacetime draft in U.S. history by signing into law the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. Exactly one month later, and on the first day registration for the draft was opened, Leo registered in Sherrill, NY. He was 5'-9" tall and weighed 160 pounds at the time. He had brown eyes and brown hair. That same October, 1940 the 27th Division (New York National Guard) was federalized and ordered to concentrate at Ft. McClellan, Alabama.

Leo is drafted into the service on January 23, 1941 through Albany, NY with service number 32041218. His enlistment papers recorded he was single and had completed two years of high school. He was engaged to Eileen M. Sheehan and they exchanged letters while he was serving his country. He was sent to Ft. McClellan for basic training. After basic training the 27th was transferred to Fort Ord, California as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor to take part in the defense of the west coast. They would spend a few weeks in California before being shipped out to the Territory of Hawaii in February 1942 where they manned beach defenses until late October 1942. During this time the 27th went through strenuous training in preparation for deployment to combat in the Pacific. A US Army Morning Report for September 18, 1943 recorded him, then a Corporal as being sick.

Operation GALVANIC, the assault on Makin which started November 20, 1943 was the first combat for the 27th. By November 23rd Makin was secure but the 27th lost 66 men killed and 130 seriously wounded. Cpl. Adams was part of this assault and likely distinguished himself because a January 5, 1944 Morning Report recorded his promotion from Corporal to Sergeant. From Makin, after some rest and refitting the 27th was sent to Saipan.

Saipan was a volcanic and coral limestone island with hills and ridges honeycombed with caves and tunnels. It was a "savage battle of annihilation" that began in early June 1944. The 105th landed on the 17th of June and attacked east to capture Aslito Airfield and to clear Nafutan Point. Sgt. Adams in killed on Saipan on July 2, 1944 and buried in the 27th Division's Cemetery, Marianas Islands. May 11, 1944 he is awarded posthumously the Combat Infantryman Badge for "exemplary conduct in action against the enemy on Saipan..."

In August 1944 a high mass was held in his memory at St. Patrick's Church in Williamstown, NY. Sgt. Adams' IDPF (Individual Deceased Personnel File) has been requested from the National Archives. When this file is obtained, his story will be updated.

Author's note: An excellent account of the 27th Divisions action on Saipan can be found in Chapter 5, pgs. 90-132, of The National Guard in War: An Historical Analysis of the 27th Infantry Division (New York National Guard) in World War II by Charles S. Kaune, Major USA.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179398127/leo_f-adams: accessed August 10, 2025), memorial page for Leo F. Adams (27 Oct 1918–1 Jul 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 179398127, citing Holy Cross Cemetery, Williamstown, Oswego County, New York, USA; Maintained by TLyons (contributor 48816921).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157146073/jay_c-adams: accessed August 11, 2025), memorial page for Jay C. Adams (26 Feb 1885–1 Feb 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 157146073, citing Redfield Village Cemetery, Redfield, Oswego County, New York, USA; Maintained by af (contributor 47059011).

Kaune, Charles S., Maj, USA, "The National Guard in War: An Historical Analysis of the 27th Infantry Division (New York National Guard) in World War II., Fort Leavenworth Kansas, 1940.

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 04583; Reel: 180

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

"Our Soldier Boys with Uncle Sam, Sgt. Leo Adams Dies in Action On Saipan Is.", Advance-Journal, Camden, NY, pg. 8, August 3, 1944

Year: 1930; Census Place: Redfield, Oswego, New York; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 2341370

Supporting Documents