Gaines, Leonard Myrton

Title

Last Name

Gaines

First and Middle Name

Leonard Myrton

Biographical Text

“It was good fun until you were hit” -1st Lieutenant Leonard Gaines

Leonard Myrton Gaines, born in Richmond in the spring of 1895, was described by the 1917 Bugle as being a friendly, well rounded person who had a “million dollar smile.” Gaines enlisted in the army in April of 1917 as a private. In September of that same year, Gaines was shipped to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he was assigned to Company I of the 6th Infantry Regiment in the 5th US Army Division. Upon completing training, Gaines and the rest of his unit sailed for France on April 12, 1918 and arrived in the city of Brest, France on April 23.

After training with the French Army, the 5th Division was deemed ready for combat and was sent to occupy French trenches in the Vosges Mountains on the first of June. Gaines reported that the division fought in “minor engagements” during this time. However, the division’s first major action took place during the Battle of St. Mihiel in which fourteen American divisions and four French divisions were tasked with breaking the German salient in the region. The attack began on September 12, 1918 and progressed so rapidly that by September 13, all of the first week’s objectives had been met. Gaines’ 5th Division fought so well at St. Mihiel that German soldiers referred to them as “Die rote teufel”, which means “Red Devils.” Fighting did not cease entirely until September 15, the day when Gaines was hit in the shoulder by German rifle fire.

Gaines spent the rest of the war in hospitals in France, and returned home to the United States on November 23, 1918. He permanently lost the use of his left shoulder as a result of his wound. Reflecting on his wartime service, Gaines wrote that the war was “good fun until you were hit.” According to his daughter, Marion Gaines Cushman, her father's injury caused him pain for the rest of his life and at times would become re-infected.

Leonard Gaines recovered from his wound and returned to the United States. After recovering, Gaines found work as a land appraiser. He married Anna Marion Brand, and raised three children.

Nicknames or Other Names

"Mert"

Hometown

Richmond, VA

County and/or State

Henrico, Virginia

Birth Date

4/12/1895

Birthplace

Richmond, VA

Death Date

12/4/1947

Cause of Death

N/a

Place of Death

Baltimore, Maryland

Parents

Maria Connor
Geo. Decatur Gaines
Marion Gaines Cushman (born January 19, 1930)

Spouse(s)

Anna Marion Brand

Children

William Lee Gaines and Leonard Myrton Gaines

VPI Graduating Class

1917

Undergraduate Major

Electrical Engineering

Graduated

Service Branch

Army

Unit

I Company, 6th Infantry, 5th Division

Rank

First Lieutenant

Retired Rank

N/a

Military Events

Wounded from a shot in the shoulder, possibly from artillery, which caused him to lose a shoulder joint. Suffered from this disability after the war. According to his daughter, Marion Gaines Cushman, her father's injury caused him pain for the rest of his life and at times would become re-infected.

Decorations or Citations

He received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his service in the First World War.

Battles or Engagements

He first saw combat on June 1st 1918 in the Toul sector, and then was a part of the major offensive at St. Mihiel

Postwar Life

Leonard Gaines recovered from his wound and returned to the United States. After recovering, Gaines found work as a land appraiser. He married Anna Marion Brand.

Occupation

Gaines' primary post-war work was as an underground utilities contractor. He started a business with his partner Gordon Bautz, Gaines and Bautz, which was very successful.

1927 "Virginia Polytehnic Institute in the World War" booklet

Additional Notes

When asked about his combat experiences he said, "It was good fun until you were hit"

Contributing Researchers

Connor Skelly

Bibliography

Letter from Leonard M. Gaines to Peter Stumpf published in The Virginia Tech, 2 May 1918
Letter from Leonard Myrton Gaines published in The Virginia Tech, 17 October 1918
Virginia War History questionnaire
Priestly Family tree on ancestry.com
Conversation with Marion Cushman Gaines about her father, on 18 July 2022.