The Saturday Evening Post in 1952 had an article about the bravery of the West Point graduates in the Korean War. Leslie was listed as one of the future potential military leaders of the U.S. Army. First Lieutenant Leslie Kirkpatrick was a member of the West Point Class of 1950. Of the 670 graduates of that class, 41 were killed in the Korean War. Leslie was Killed In Action (KIA), November 5, 1950. He was listed in Unit 19 Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

Leslie's Mother, Mrs. Hazel Kirkpatrick, said Leslie's company was overrun by the Chinese. She said the entire company retreated but Leslie remained to fight. Fellow company men said Leslie was holding a mortar straight up and firing it when they left the area. The Chinese were all around him. Later when Leslie's company recaptured the battlefield they found Leslie's body. The ring finger where Leslie wore his West Point ring was severed and the ring was gone.

The Saturday Evening Post in 1952 had an article about the bravery of the West Point graduates in the Korean War. Leslie was listed as one of the future potential military leaders of the U.S. Army.

Leslie was an outstanding young high school graduate, graduating from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery , Alabama, in 1942. He was the Class President and an outstanding company officer in the ROTC program on the Lanier campus.

I remember the discipline and dedication Leslie gave to The Point. Leslie enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with our family just before his deploying to Korea in 1950. He ate his food with military rigor and precision. He never bent his head to receive his food to his mouth. He never turned his head to ask for a dish to be passed. He kept his head straight and entire body perfectly erect at all times. And above all I remember Leslie praising West Point. He loved West Point and he loved his country. Leslie Kirkpatrick will always be my hero.

Thomas Ragsdale