Pfc Leonard C. Brostrom
U.S. Army, Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Background
 Leonard C. Brostrom was born November 23, 1919 to parents John Brostrum and Louise Adolfina Hillstead in Preston, Idaho. He graduated from Preston High School (Oneida Stake Academy) and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Wartime History
On March 16, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army in Fort Douglas, Utah. Assigned to the 7th Infantry Division, 17th Infantry Regiment, Company F. He served in Alaska on Attu and Kiska, then to Hawaii, Marshall Islands and participated in the invasion of Leyte. By 1944, promoted to the rank of Private First Class.
Wartime History
On October 28, 1944 participated in an attack against Japanese pillboxes and trenches south of Dagami on Leyte. As a lead scout with Company F approached the left flank with the 2nd Battalion to envelop the town but faced withering fire from pillboxes, trenches, and enemy spider holes. Pfc Brostrom was hit three times while crossing a bamboo thicket and charged in the open to attack a pillbox and was visible to both sides and threw several grenades into the bunker while six Japanese charged him with bayonets. He was able to kill one and wound another and the rest retreated. Hit a fourth time, he collapsed, then stood up and continued his assault with grenades and rifle fire causing the remaining Japanese in the bunker to flee as he fell seriously wounded. Meanwhile, other Americans reached him and fired on the fleeing Japanese and was carried to an aid station but while in transit died of his wounded. For his actions, he earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Medal of Honor
For his actions on October 28, 1944 Brostrom earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. On November 29, 1945 his Medal of Honor was presented to his father by Brig. Gen. Robert M. Hardaway in Preston, Idaho.
Medal of Honor Citation (October 28, 1944, posthumously) General Orders No. 104, November 15, 1945
 "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Leonard C. Brostrom, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action as a rifleman with an assault platoon of Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which ran into powerful resistance near Dagami, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 28 October 1944. From pillboxes, trenches, and spider holes, so well camouflaged that they could be detected at no more than 20 yards, the enemy poured machinegun and rifle fire, causing severe casualties in the platoon. Realizing that a key pillbox in the center of the strong point would have to be knocked out if the company were to advance, Private First Class Brostrom, without orders and completely ignoring his own safety, ran forward to attack the pillbox with grenades. He immediately became the prime target for all the riflemen in the area, as he rushed to the rear of the pillbox and tossed grenades through the entrance. Six enemy soldiers left a trench in a bayonet charge against the heroic American, but he killed one and drove the others off with rifle fire. As he threw more grenades from his completely exposed position he was wounded several times in the abdomen and knocked to the ground. Although suffering intense pain and rapidly weakening from loss of blood, he slowly rose to his feet and once more hurled his deadly missiles at the pillbox. As he collapsed, the enemy began fleeing from the fortification and were killed by riflemen of his platoon. Private First Class Brostrom died while being carried from the battlefield, but his intrepidity and unhesitating willingness to sacrifice himself in a one-man attack against overwhelming odds enabled his company to reorganize against attack, and annihilate the entire enemy position." |
Memorials
Brostrom was buried in the Preston Cemetery in Preston, Idaho at block 1, lot 18.
References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records -
Leonard C. Brostrom
Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Leonard Carl Brostrom (MOH citation)
Hall of Valor - Leonard C. Brostrom (MOH citation)
FindAGrave - PFC Leonard Carl Brostrom (photo, grave photo)
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