A one-week honeymoon was all that was allotted to Paul Leach before North Africa.

Information relating to Paul Elmo Leach's birth and family has not been located; however, his mother, Mrs. Pearl Kingston, may have raised him in Kansas City, Missouri.

The date he entered the Army is unknown, but in 1942 Corporal Paul Leach was probably a member of the 3rd Infantry Division stationed at Ford Ord, California. He likely met Edna Mae Davis of Santa Cruz during that assignment, and on August 30, 1942, the couple were married in her mother's home. Edna lived with her mother during Paul's absence, and that home became their official residence.

On September 6, 1942, Leach and his unit boarded trains for Camp Pickett, Virginia. After reaching the camp, the 3rd Infantry trained until October 24 and then boarded ships destined for "Operation Torch" in North Africa.

On November 8, 1942, the 3rd Infantry Division stormed ashore at Casablanca supported by 400 ships and 1,000 aircraft. The invasion was a complete surprise and the 3rd Division quickly established their beachhead but the [Vichy]French forces fought back bitterly. For three days, the Americans fought the French forces until finally, the French agreed to a cease-fire and joined the Allied forces. With Casablanca secured, the Allies could now move men and materiel into the Mediterranean Sea without fear of the Straights of Gibraltar being sealed off.

On January 12, 1943, Edna Mae received a telegram from the War Department informing her that her husband was killed in action in North Africa. No record has been found as to his burial location; however, his remains were most likely returned to the United States after the war.

(SCSn December 16, 1942 5:1; Ed, 3rd Inf Div During WWII, http://history- world.org/3rd_infantry_division.htm, [16 September 2008])