Leonard W. Kidd Post 2001 Ashburn, Virginia was organized as a result of extreme high population growth during the 1990s. Officers and members of American Legion Post 34 Leesburg,

Virginia realized a need for a fifth Legion Post in Loudoun County. They initiated efforts to form a new post in Ashburn and reached out for residents of Ashburn to form a post. Charles L. Thomas together with others such as Thomas Jimenez, Walt Kamien and Dan Mathews answered the challenge and became the driving forces behind the new post. Post 2001 began organizing in early 2000 and submitted application for a Temporary Post Charter on April 25, 2000. The Post submitted for a permanent Charter on September 17, 2000 which was received from American Legion National in November 2000. Since its founding Post 2001 has upheld the ideals of the American Legion: dedicated to God and Country, traditional American values, support for strong national security, adequate and compassionate care for our fellow veterans, their widows and orphans, community service, and the wholesome development of our nation’s youth.

In selecting a name for the newly organized Post the members’ choose to name it as a lasting memorial for the only citizen of Ashburn to die in the Vietnam War. Therefore, it is dedicated to the memory of Leonard Whitley Kidd who resided with his family in Ashburn.

Specialist Five Kidd volunteered for service, entering the Army in July 1968. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and completed Individual Training as a General Engineer at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Initially he was assigned to US Army Europe in November 1968. He volunteered for assignment in Vietnam in March 1969. He served one tour in Vietnam and was, in July 1970, only three months away from completing his extended tour of duty for which he had volunteered.

On July 27, 1970, while a fellow soldier and Leonard were setting up power units for a new base, Specialist Snow came in contact with high voltage wires and could not let go. Leonard, seeing what was occurring, in a self-less act and without regard for his own life, freed Snow from the live high voltage wire. Unfortunately, Leonard was then the one who was latched onto that wire and lost his life. Specialist Five Leonard W. Kidd gave selflessly and with total disregard for his own life to save that of a fellow soldier. He upheld the tradition of the U.S. fighting men and women; service before self. Specialist Kidd was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. He is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, panel 8W row 59.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.”

– George S. Patton