Leon "Jim" N. Damewood Jr.

Leon “Jim” Damewood, age 89, went to live with the Lord on April 24, 2017 at his home, surrounded by his family. Jim was born on December 14, 1927 in Clarinda, Iowa to Leon Sr. and Clarice Damewood. He enlisted with the USMC on July 4, 1944, at the age of 16, having obtained a priest’s signature on a forged birth certificate that stated he was old enough to fight in the Second World War. After enlistment Jim went by train to bootcamp, which had been compressed due to the need for infantrymen on the front lines. It was not until February of 1945 that his concerned parents - who thought he was in Texas with friends - found out that he had joined the Marines. Shortly after he was on his way home, having spent four days on the beach at Iwo Jima, where one of the most iconic images was captured. Later that year, Jim turned 18 (for real) and reenlisted with the Marines. He left the Marines in 1947 and with the assistance of the GI Bill, headed off to college, first at Iowa State and later at Chillico Business College to study accounting and penmanship. At the start of the Korean War in 1950 Jim decided to reenlist with the Marines, and he went off to Quantico to perform firing and training exercises in preparation for deployment. A battery of different assignments followed, including training in communications, before he was officially deployed to the war in 1952. After his tour ended Jim went on to San Diego, where he was called upon to teach what he had learned about radio relay work to other Marines. In the years following Jim served in various capacities through assignments at Camp Pendleton; a stint in Okinawa, Japan; a stay in DeNang, South Vietnam; and back in San Diego. Jim retired from the Marine Corps in 1968. A lifetime dedicated to the United States Marine Corps put Jim through three major wars, WW II, Korean War and the Vietnam War. Jim and his wife Mary moved to Siskiyou County in 2002 and settled in Lake Shastina. Jim and Mary both are members of the U.S. Marine Corps League and the American Legion, as well as the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2014, Jim was presented with an Ambassador for Peace medal recognizing his service in Korea. Jim is survived by his wife of 28 years, Mary Damewood; his children, Darlene Townsend, Mike Damewood (Debbie), Sandra Craig (Joe), Katherine Adams (Derl), Polly Klinefelter (Ron), Brenda Eby (Michael) and Trish Barbieri (Craig); a brother, Donald Damewood (Erma); along with many, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his daughters, Jackie, Linda and Pam, son, Steve, and son-in-law James Townsend. He was loved by many and will be missed by ALL! The Rosary will be recited on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 12:30 PM at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yreka, a memorial mass at 1:00 PM, followed by a rendering of full military honors. Jim will be laid to rest at a later date at the San Marcos Cemetery in San Marcos, CA.

Leon "Jim" N. Damewood Jr.

December 14, 1927 - April 24, 2017