John Daniel Smith was born on January 22, 1922, in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Benjamin Lovengire Leasure and Hazel M. Leasure.

John enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 30, 1942, at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He served in the 509th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and was a passenger aboard the B-17G #44-8639 at the time of his death. He was Killed in Action on June 8, 1945, when his airplane clipped the high ground on a ridgeside, then skidded along the mountainside of Craig Cwm Llwyd near Barmouth, Wales, and burst into flames. His B-17 was returning to the United States following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe. They were flying from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to the RAF Valley Airfield on Anglesey before the final leg back to the United States. All men aboard his plane were killed as a result of the crash.

Sgt Leasure is now buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com