Born: unknown
Died: June 18, 1944
Campaigns Served: Namur, Saipan (killed)
Highest Rank Attained: Corporal
Decorations: Silver Star, Purple Heart
Leslie Chambers, a mortarman, was one of the original members of Baker Company, 24th Marines.
On Chambers' first night in combat - the early hours of February 2, 1944 - the Japanese garrison on Namur launched a massive banzai attack against Baker Company. The three mortar crews fired nearly nonstop for hours, shortening their range as the Japanese pressed the front lines back. PFC Chambers, who had distinguished himself earlier in the fight by retrieving and throwing back two live Japanese grenades that had been tossed into his crew's gun pit, refused to withdraw. He stayed at his gun, firing round after round, until the rest of the company reached safer positions. Lt. Phil Wood, a weapons platoon commander in Able Company (on Baker's right flank) wrote that "their 60mm mortars saved the day – they fired at a perilously close range, but succeeded in breaking up the charge." Leslie Chambers was decorated with a Silver Star, was promoted to corporal, and had his exploits recorded in the official history of the Fourth Marine Division.
Corporal Chambers led his own mortar squad into combat on Saipan. He was killed there on June 18, 1944.
Chambers was buried in Plot 3, Row 4, Grave 498 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery. After the war, his remains were returned to his native Ohio.