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World War II Army Veteran, Leland D. Chandler, donated his service dress uniform, awards, decorations, military documents and artifacts to the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In January of 1941, Leland Chandler enlisted in the Army at 18 years old, served during WWII and was stationed at the Corregidor Islands in the Philippines with the 60th Coast Artillery. At the young age of 19 years old, Chandler was captured and taken to Japan and listed as a prisoner of war. During his three-and-a-half year status as a POW, Chandler worked as a steel mill laborer with 12-hour shifts, slept on the workroom floor, required to perform under grueling conditions, if he was healthy enough to work-he was given a bowl of rice a day to eat and was beaten when he physically couldnât perform his laborious duties.
âThere were 400 of us that went into that Japanese prison camp and when we were freed, only 53 of us came out, Chandler recalled as his children unveiled his service uniform and awards during the recent donation to the Fort Sill Museum.
Chandler weighed approximately 190 pounds when he went into the Japanese POW camp and when the remaining survivors were liberated, he weighed only 58 pounds.
âThey told me I wouldnât be able to have children, weâll Iâve proved them all wrong. Heck, they never thought I would live this long and Iâve proved them wrong on that one too!â, Chandler said.
Three of Chandlersâ five children brought their father to Ft. Sill and were happy to help their Father donate his service memorabilia to the museum.
âWe all talked about what we wanted to do with Dadâs military history and we all agreed, that it wouldnât be right to split up his uniform and awards and that we wanted it all to be in the same place to be properly preserve to maintain all this history,â Linn Woodworth, Chandlerâs daughter said, âNow we have a place that his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids can come to see all of our Fatherâs history in one location.â
âOur facility is the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility. We have three facilities here at Fort Sill-the Field Artillery Museum, Fort Sill Museum and the Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility,â said Correy Twilley ADA Training Support Facility Curator. âOurs is a new training concept that uses history to develop our Soldiers, weapons and tactics.â
âWe are ultimately a training facility and we have an obligation to teach our young AIT [Advanced Individual Training] students and OCS [Officer Candidates Students] that attend these courses about this part of our history so they can learn about the past in the hopes that we are not doomed to repeat it,â Twilley said, âWe are grateful for this unique and well-preserved piece of Mr. Chandlerâs history. With this donation, he is helping to educate the future generations of service members and their families who walk through these halls. So much of WWII history has been lost and Mr. Chandler and his family has helped us preserve this piece in time to teach those future generations about his contributions to our nationâs heritage.â
Chandler continues to defy the odds, at a very spry 101 years old, Mr. Chandler holds the title of centenarian and continues to puzzle the medical experts.
Chandler attributes his extraordinary good health to medical care he receives at the VA and his family that has taken such good care of him throughout the years.
âIâm 100 percent (VA service connection) and the VA has taken excellent care of me and they have done everything they needed to do for me and my wife-they are outstanding,â Chandler said.
âOne of the best things the VA could have done for my Father is to ensure our Mother was also taken care of-this was a huge relief to me and our entire family,â Chandlerâs daughter Linn Woodworth stated. Unfortunately, On December 1, 2023, Chandlersâ wife passed away, just four days after celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary.
Chandler encourages other Veterans to find out if they are now eligible for VA healthcare because the rules and laws have changed over the years. Although, Chandler gives some sage words of advice to Veterans and says to come to the VA prepared.
âBring in the right paperwork, the documents you need to get them into the system,â Chandler said. Ask yourself, do you have what you need to back it up?â
When asked the question about Veterans who may be reluctant to come to the VA to find out if you are eligible or not, he gave some fatherly words of advice.
âWell, that is your own fault, if you donât go in and find out-I donât have any sympathy for people who donât do the right thing. I donât know about other places, but I know the VA where I belong, that is the way it works.â
Chandler added, âI wouldnât be here today if it wasnât for my family and the excellent care they have given to me over the years.â Chandler said, âI donât know what Iâd do without them.â
For more information about OKC VA HCS, visit our website at the below link: https://www.va.gov/oklahoma-city-health-care