Captain Leo Parrott LeBron

Captain LeBron's Life and Service

The First Oklahoma Officer Killed in War (WWI)

The First Oklahoma Officer Killed in War (WWI) Logan County gave up the first officer of the State to lose his life in the First World War. Captain LeBron was the son of Frank and Mrs. Elizabeth LeBron, Keokuk, Iowa, and the grandson of Brigadier General Parrott (Civil War) of Iowa.

He was born in Keokuk July 12, 1876, educated in the public schools of Iowa, and graduated from the Kemper Military School and Civil Engineering School of Ames, Iowa.

Prior to entering the United States Army, Captain LeBron was employed as a civil engineer by the Ft. Smith & Western Railway Co.

He volunteered for service August 6, 1917, and was commissioned Captain direct from the war Department and sent to Fort Leavenworth. After a short time he was stationed at Camp Grant, Illinois, where he helped train the 311th Engineers.

He was called away from the 311th Engineers and sent to France with the Casual Engineers, sailing for France on January 23, 1918, on the U. S. Transport Tuscaina.

Captain LeBron was killed on February 5th, 1918, when the Tuscania was torpedoed off the Irish coast with the loss of 101 men.

His body was buried on the island, in a cemetery for which the land was given by Lord Morrison. He is now buried in the cemetery of his birthplace.

Captain LeBron was also the first member of the B.P.O.E. in the world to be killed in the war. He was survived by Mrs. LeBron, his widow, and two children, Leo, Jr., and Miss Nan, of Oklahoma City.