Included on the list of Santa Cruz County "killed in action" appearing in the Santa Cruz Sentinel edition of May 30, 1945, is the name Leo P. Packham. Local record searches have not been able to provide information regarding his connection with Santa Cruz County.

Leo Packham was born in Los Angeles County, California, on November 22, 1921. His parents are believed to have been Mr. and Mrs. Leo P. Packham who were living in San Diego in 1920. It is likely that he was raised and educated in Southern California. No additional information regarding his family is available. After completing four years of high school, he worked in the entertainment field until 1941.

Packham enlisted in the California National Guard in Los Angles on March 3, 1941, and was assigned as a private in the Quartermaster Corps. During his training period, he volunteered for paratrooper duty and after completing "jump school," became a part of the 501st Parachute Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division that jumped on Normandy on D-Day.

“In June 1944, the SHAEF decided to drop both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions simultaneously into Normandy. The 501st PIR (less 3rd Battalion) took off for their first combat jump from Merryfield Airport at 2245hrs, 5 June 1944. The 3rd Battalion was to depart at the same time from Welford. All units were to fly across the English Channel and drop into Normandy, five hours prior to the seaborne landing. The 501st drop zones were north and east of the town of Carentan. Two battalions were to seize key canal locks at La Barquette and destroy the bridges over the Douve River, while the third battalion was in division reserve In the predawn hours of D-Day a combination of low clouds, and enemy anti-aircraft fire caused the break-up of the troop carrier formations. Consequently, the sporadic jump patterns caused highly scattered drops. Most of the troopers landed far afield of their designated drop zones. The actions that night bore little resemblance to those so carefully planned and briefed. Amazingly, this unanticipated misstep confused the Germans and allowed the airborne units time to regroup. Unfortunately those who were dropped accurately encountered stiff German resistance.”

Technician Fifth Class Leo P. Packham died on June 6, 1944, and is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. His awards include the Purple Heart.

(CBR; USCR, 1920 US Census, CA, San Diego; NARA2; ABMC)