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- Dear Dawn Aragon:
Hunter Leaf suggested I get in touch with you. That you might be able to help in my research .
I am writing a book about how the 107th Infantry Regiment broke the Hindenburg Line in 1918 , during World War One. One of the heroes of the 107th was Hunter's father, Hunter Leaf, a private in Company A. There was also a Morris Leaf in
Company. I wonder if they were brothers? Morris was
killed before the battle.
I am hoping you can tell me about the Leaf family, and especially Hunter. Perhaps he wrote l etters to your side of the family while he was in the 107th, beginning with his days at the o ld Seventh Regiment Armory in New York City (the Seventh
later became the 107th) and then at Camp Wadsworth in Spartanburg, SC, and then on through th e war.
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Harris
I have a photo of Hunter Leaf if you would like me to duplicate it and "snail" mail it to you . My youngest daughter remembers him as being a very kind and gentle person. My oldest daughter remembers the opposite about him. He was, of course, elderly when he married my Mother, so his "gruffness" was indeed a part of his character. He had two children: a son, Hunter Leaf, Jr. and a daughter, Nancy. Hunter Leaf, Jr.' s wife was JoAnn. Don't know anything else about his daughter. These children were from his first marriage. His first wife died. My Mother knew her, as they were involved in some of the same church activities. Hunter died from an aneurysm. He had chronic asthma and bronchitis. Pam Blum
I knew Hunter Leaf very well. We visited with him constantly, as he was married to my Mother . My entire family knew him. My youngest daughter knew him as her "Gaa-Gaa" (Grandfather) . We all lived in Savannah, GA together (very close proximity to each other). Pam Blun
107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division
The 107th was originally the 7th, and was manned by sons of New York City society, including the Van Burens, Van Rensselaers, Vanderbilts, Roosevelts , Harrimans, Tiffanys, etc. The famous 7th Regiment Armory, paid for by private funds, is to this day still privately owned. It stands on plush Park
Avenue, a block from Central Park.
I don't know Hunter Leaf at all. I was reading an account of the battle, and came across this line by the author Ben Franklin. "My pal Hunter Leaf jumped over to me and at the risk o f his own life pulled me into a shell-hole, where he bandaged my face and made me comfortable."
Stephen L Harris
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