Leonard D. Reed was born on the family farm in Summit Township, Sully County, South Dakota near the town of Onida. After high school, he moved to Antioch, California in 1941 and joined the police department. He entered the army in March 1944 and was assigned as an Air Cadet, 837th Navigator Training School, Class 44-5-1, at Hondo, Texas. Upon graduation, he shipped out to England assigned to the 8th Air Force, VII Bomber Command, 41st Bombardment Wing, 379th Bombardment Group, 526th Bombardment Squadron, as a navigator. After the war, Leonard returned to the police department and remained in the USAF Reserves during which time he was recalled to active duty to serve in Korea and Vietnam. He retired from both the Antioch Police Department and the USAF Reserves at the rank of Major after 35 years credited service.