Maj. Jaimie E. Leonard
Maj. Jaimie Elizabeth Leonard died Saturday, June 8, 2013, in Afghanistan in service to her country.
From a young age she dreamed of serving in the military and achieved this ambition with more than 16 years of honorable service in the U.S. Army. A brilliant and committed officer, Jaimie was respected and beloved by those with whom she served. She was an inspiration to all.
Born Jan. 29, 1974, Jaimie grew up in Warwick and graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 1992.
After attending Marion Military Institute on a merit-based scholarship, she entered United States Military Academy at West Point, commissioning in 1997 as a military intelligence officer.
As a selectee to the highly competitive Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense Intern Program, Jaimie earned her master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University in 1997.
Assignments
Her dedicated service comprised assignments to South Korea; Germany; Fort Bragg, N.C.; the Pentagon; Fort Drum; and multiple deployments, to include three combat tours – one in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.
Her exemplary and selfless service to her country yielded award of three Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, five Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO badge, Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Family
Jaimie was preceded in death by her father, Robert Fulton Leonard Jr., and mother, Patricia Ann Oberst.
She is survived by five siblings: Elizabeth Anne Harman and her husband JR Harman and their daughters Ava and Leah of Putnam Valley; Hannah J. Rudy and her husband Travis Shores and their son Theolonious and daughter Fionna of Hanover, N.H.; Allyson Basha and her husband Mohammed Basha and their daughter Nina of Burlington, Vt.; Samantha Leonard, presently serving with the Peace Corps in Grenada, West Indies; and Robert Leonard of East Dorset, Vt.; stepmother Sally Asbury Leonard of East Dorset, Vt.; and three godchildren: Kristen Courage, Katherine Kemkes and Ava Harman.
Jaimie will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, godchildren and many friends and colleagues. She was a true inspiration and consummate soldier - dedicated to her work, family and friends - and she will be profoundly missed.
Services
A wake will be held at Hogan Funeral Home in Highland Falls on Wednesday, June 19.
Services will be held at West Point Chapel on Thursday, June 20.
Jaimie will be interred in West Point Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org), which provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.