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Revisiting the James Leininger Case: A Survival Skeptic Strikes Back

All U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 results for John Larson in www.ancestry.com military records:

Name (150 from all branches) Birth Date Death Date Branch (Unstated and Navy Only, 56 total) FIRST BATCH:

***John H Larson 23 Sep 1917 8 May 1996 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. Lt. (Lieutenant) US NAVY World War II, www.ancestry.com. b. John Herbert Larson in Lajunta Oter CO. Lt(jg) John H. Larson stationed on USS Davis (Destroyer)[not an aircraft carrier] as of 24 Jul 1943 and through 1 July 1945. US Navy Muster Rolls 1938-1949.

***John E Larson 28 Aug 1918 23 Oct 2009 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. b. John Elmer Larson in Chicago, IL. Served in the US ARMY during World War II. Obituary The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) 25 Oct 2009, p.12.

John J Larson 24 Dec 1916 8 Aug 1974 UNSTATED b. John Joseph Larson in Brooklyn, NY, d. Connecticut. American Seaman in 1935.

***John C Larson 11 May 1918 20 Sep 2001 NAVY ***REMOVED. b. Manistee, MI John Clarence Larson Lt(jg) US Navy USS LC(FF)-484 [Landing Craft Infantry] [not an aircraft carrier], as of 1 Mar 1946. US Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949.

***John E Larson 10 Dec 1918 21 Feb 1987 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. Enlisted as a private, US ARMY 25 July 1944, US, World War II, Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

***John L Larson 29 Dec 1916 31 Oct 2000 NAVY ***REMOVED. Signed his name J. LaMar Larson (suggests he called himself Lamar, not John, and so not Jack).

John Arthur Larson 21 Jul 1916 26 Nov 1991 NAVY. Enlisted 4 Apr 1942, Discharged 29 Dec 1945. Last Residence Green Valley, AZ. b. Shawano, WI. Retired from the USNR in 1976 with the rank of Commander. BA in Music U of WI, MA U of AZ. Bronze Star for Valor.

***John Lyndon Larson 15 Mar 1918 21 Feb 1996 NAVY ***REMOVED. Enlistment date 24 Apr 1945. Discharged 16 Dec 1945. F2 US Navy World War 2 [Fireman 2nd Class].

***John E Larson 25 Feb 1919 19 Jun 1997 NAVY. ***REMOVED. “He served during World War II as a Lieutenant in the US Navy as a gunnery officer aboard the Destroyer USS McDermut in the Pacific Theater.” www.newspapers.com Hartford Courant (Hartford CN), 22 June 1997, p.145.

John Charles Larson 25 Feb 1919 24 Aug 1989 NAVY b. Sheboygan, WI. Registration Date 16 Oct 1940 Place Dallas, TX. Employer Dallas Aviation School. Enlistment Date 17 June 1942 Discharge Date 25 Aug 1944.

***John D Larson 26 Jul 1919 30 Jan 1995 NAVY ***REMOVED. H-VP Ensign as of Jan 1, 1943, US, Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, John David Larson, jr. b. Columbus OH. Lt(jg) John David Larson, jr. US Navy World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com (Doctor or medic, not a pilot) H-V(P) -- USNR designation for medical and dental students, appointed as ensigns, for special duties in connection with the Medical Corps of the Navy. This classification was abolished in September 1944 and replaced by H(P) Corps.

***John Bertil Larson 25 Jan 1919 20 Jun 1995 NAVY ***REMOVED. b. Silvis, IL. Enlisted 27 Mar 1944 Discharged 16 Jan 1946. US Navy veteran serving in Guam. [Not a carrier pilot] Obituary The Rock Island Argus (Moline, IL) 21 June 1995, p.5. Locomotive engineer post war, retiring 1980.

***John N Larson 1 Oct 1920 16 Sep 1995 NAVY. Enlisted 23 June 1942 Discharged 27 Nov 1945. b. Salem, OR John Norman Larson. ***REMOVED. RM2 US NAVY World War II on gravestone (Radioman Petty Officer 2nd Class). www.findagrave.com

***John Everett Larson 13 Nov 1920 ***REMOVED. 23 May 1992 NAVY b. Durant OK. MM1 US Navy World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com Machinist’s Mate Petty Officer 1st Class

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John Shipp Larson 28 Jun 1914 22 Aug 1974 UNSTATED. Retired machinist. Obituary Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), 29 Aug 1974, p.62. b. Madison, WI. d. Phoenix AZ. Enlisted 05 Oct 1943 Discharged 20 Dec 1945

***John Joseph Milton Larson 3 Sep 1914 11 Nov 1975 UNSTATED. ***REMOVED. b. Evanston, IL. NAVY Lt (jg), USS Arkab (a Navy cargo ship) as of 05 May 1945; Lt (jg) aboard the USS Sakatonchee (a Navy gasoline tanker) as of 19 Jan 1944.

***John A Larson 19 Feb 1914 ***REMOVED. 23 Mar 1993 NAVY. Enlisted 21 July 1941. b. John Albert Larson, Oakland CA. Lt.(Lieutenant) DEVS as of 01 Jan 1943. US, Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Naval and Reserve Officers, Cadets, and Midshipmen. DE-V(S) -- USNR designation for deck and engineer officers qualified for specialist duties.

***John M Larson 13 Feb 1914 27 Oct 1998 NAVY. Enlisted 13 Feb 1915; Discharged 01 Oct 1945. Lt US Navy World War II on gravestone. (Lieutenant). www.findagrave.com ***REMOVED. Dentist. 1940 on draft card. John Miles Larson. DCVG as of 01 Jan 1943. US, Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Naval and Reserve Officers, Cadets, and Midshipmen. DC-V(G) -- USNR designation for dental officers qualified for general detail afloat or ashore.

***John A Larson 31 Jan 1913 2 Jan 2007 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. b. Boston, MASS John Albert Larson. Last Residence Albuquerque NM. Electrical Technician post war (1950 US Census). Enlisted 23 July 1943. Rank Private. US ARMY, US, World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

***John Alvar Larson 22 Mar 1913 18 Mar 1977 UNSTATED. ***REMOVED. (Branch undetermined) Enlisted 23 July 1943, Discharged 05 Oct 1943. b. Springfield, MASS. 1940 US Census, Occupation – Logger. Highest Grade - Elementary School 8th Grade. Could not have been a Navy pilot (minimum education requirement – completed High School + 11 months US Navy flight training school)

***John A Larson 3 Nov 1921 17 Mar 1998 UNSTATED b. San Francisco CA. ***REMOVED. John Albert Larson. US NAVY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com “Veteran of US Navy SeaBees” [SeaBees were the construction arm of the US Navy]. Obituary. www.newspapers.com The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) 19 Mar 1998, p.17

***John S Larson 2 Jun 1921 13 Sep 1985 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. Tec 5 US ARMY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com.

***John A Larson 26 Nov 1913 14 Sep 1977 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. Enlisted 23 Mar 1944 Discharged 14 Dec 1945. b. Minneapolis, MN, John Amil Larson. SK2 US NAVY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com (Storekeeper 2nd Class)

***John C Larson 9 Jun 1921 9 Oct 2009 NAVY b. Douglas, Nebraska. Signed named Jack C Larson on WW2 draft card. John Charles Larson. ***REMOVED. Enlisted 20 July 1942 Discharged 10 Dec 1945. SM1c USS Belle Grove, as of 30 June 1944, (Signalman 1st Class Petty Officer) US Navy Muster Rolls 1938-1949.

***John Robert Larson 7 Oct 1921 29 May 2000 NAVY ***REMOVED. John Robert “Bob” Larson in Obituary in The Courier-News (Bridgewater, NJ) 31 May 2000, p.27.

***John P Larson 27 May 1913 4 Feb 1983 UNSTATED b. Greeley, Nebraska. ***REMOVED. SGT US ARMY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com

***John H Larson 25 Jun 1921 15 May 1982 NAVY Enlisted 10 May 1943 Discharged 24 Dec 1945. ***REMOVED. SC2 US NAVY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com (Ship’s Cook 2nd Class)

***John Phillip Larson 14 Jun 1921 25 May 2002 NAVY Enlisted 15 Aug 1942 Discharged 24 Dec 1945. ***REMOVED. RT1 US NAVY World War II US Veteran’s Gravesites, 1775-2009. (Radio Technician 1st Class)

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John Melvin Larson 3 Sep 1922 11 Feb 2000 NAVY b. La Salle, IL. Lt. US Navy World War II Korea on gravestone (Lieutenant US Navy). www.findagrave.com. Known as Melvin Larson 1940 and 1950 US Census. Enlisted 16 Dec 1942 Discharged 15 Jun 1947.

John A Larson 19 Apr 1922 13 Nov 1994 UNSTATED Enlisted 9 Mar 1943. b. Colorado, d. Wyoming. Post war bakery truck driver (1950 US Census). John Albert Larson. Pre war bakery truck driver in Laramie, WY [??? John A Larson 665 63 32 Coxswain, USS Epping Forest]

***John C Larson 15 Oct 1922 29 Sep 2003 NAVY Enlisted 26 Sept 1942 Discharged 7 Dec 1945. ***REMOVED. John Calene Larson. Gravestone US Navy World War II. B. Enterprise, Kansas, d. Kansas. Post war Farming, farmer. S1c USS Speed as of 31 Dec 1944 (Seaman 1st Class). US Navy Muster Rolls 1938-1949.

***John G Larson 8 Jan 1922 29 Mar 1997 NAVY ***REMOVED. Enlisted 27 Apr 1944 12 Jan 1946. John Gilbert Larson. TM3 US Navy World War II (Torpedoman’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer) on gravestone. www.findagrave.com

John D Larson 17 Sep 1922 31 Dec 1991 NAVY b. Donaldson, MN d. Minneapolis, MN Post war Sales clerk in a paint store (1950 US Census). John Donald Larson. Enlisted 05 Aug 1943 Discharged 15 Dec 1945. Mother’s maiden name Wooley.

***John Albert Larson 9 Jan 1912 31 May 1975 UNSTATED b. Herbster, WI Enlisted 15 June 1942 Discharged 16 Nov 1945. ***REMOVED. CCM US NAVY World War II on gravestone (Chief Carpenter’s Mate, Chief Petty Officer). www.findagrave.com

John Charles Larson 9 Jun 1923 16 Mar 1982 UNSTATED b. Minneapolis, MN John Charles Larson, jr.

***John L Larson 25 Sep 1911 30 Apr 1956 NAVY Enlisted 10 June 1942 Discharged 4 Nov 1945. John Lawrence Larson. ***REMOVED. CBM US NAVY World War II on gravestone (Chief Boatswain’s Mate) www.findagrave.com

***John Archer Larson 6 Apr 1911 27 Oct 1996 UNSTATED b. Kamrar, Hamilton, IA . ***REMOVED. US ARMY World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com

***John Harry Larson 7 Mar 1923 3 Aug 1998 AF ***REMOVED. Staff Sergeant US Air Force World War II, Korea on gravestone.

***John E Larson 7 Oct 1911 10 Jan 2001 UNSTATED b. John Einar Larson, Helena, MT Post war General Manager Wholesale Meat Co. (1950 US Census) Pre war occupation Butcher. ***REMOVED. Four years US Army service and a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy. Marriage Announcement, The Independent- Record (Helena, MT) 31 Aug 1947, p. 10

***John C Larson 1 Aug 1924 22 Jan 2001 NAVY Enlisted 15 Jan 1943 Discharged 10 Apr 1946. John Calvin Larson. b. Iron Mountain, MI. d. Grand Rapids, MI. ***REMOVED. Post war Clerk Auto Plant (1950 US Census). SK1c USS Bronx (attack transport ship) as of 27 Aug 1945 (Storekeeper 1st Class Petty Officer), US Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949.

(cont'd next post)
 
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***John H Larson 29 Jul 1924 9 Feb 2002 NAVY. ***REMOVED. John H “Jack” Larson, jr. b. Chicago, IL. Enlisted 30 June 1943 Discharged 28 Jan 1946. “He served aboard LST 139 during the invasion of Normandy.” [Landing Ship, Tank] Obituary. Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) 17 Feb 2002, p. 138.

John Donald Larson 6 Feb 1924 1 Dec 2003 UNSTATED Father Bertil G. Larson. CDR US NAVY on gravestone (Commander, US Navy). Spouse Majorie Mae Bergstrom b. Mahaffey PA. Service No. 819 10 30. Service 15 Apr 1943 – 2 Nov 1945. “Mr. Larson also graduated . . . in 1941, after which, he served 31 months in the Naval Air Corps.” Marriage Announcement Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA) 21 Sep 1946, p. 4.

***John Walter Larson 16 Jan 1925 3 Apr 2002 NAVY Enlisted 21 June 1943 Discharged 15 Mar 1946. b. Port Allegany, PA d. Jamestown, NY. ***REMOVED. John W. “Jack” Larson. “He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and received the Purple Heart following the sinking of his ship, the USS Rich [Destroyer Escort], during the Battle of Normandy. He later served on the USS O’Leary [Destroyer] in Japan.” Obituary www.findagrave.com

***John Albert Larson 1 Apr 1925 7 Jul 1974 NAVY Enlisted 12 May 1942 Discharged 18 May 1962. ***REMOVED. b. Mass. John Albert Larson, jr. TM3c aboard USS Cod [Submarine] as of 21 June 1943 through at least 19 Feb 1945. [Torpedoman’s Mate, 3rd Class] Enlisted Boston, Mass. US Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949.

***John L Larson 17 Aug 1909 12 Jul 1990 NAVY ***REMOVED. Enlisted 14 Feb 1944 Discharged 23 Nov 1945. b. Lewistown, Fallon, MT. John Ludwig Larson. US Navy World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.com Post war Carpenter Building Trade (1950 US Census). Pre war Education High School 3rd Year. [did not complete High School and so could not have qualified for Navy flight training school], Laborer County Roads (1940 US Census).

John Arthur Larson 4 May 1925 10 Apr 1984 NAVY b. Santa Monica, CA. Enlisted 13 Jan 1944 Discharged 20 June 1946. Last residence Los Altos CA.

John V Larson 1 Aug 1925 3 Nov 1975 UNSTATED b. Minneapolis, MN d. Ramsey, MN

***John D Larson 4 May 1925 16 Aug 1985 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. Enlisted 22 Nov 1948 Discharged 5 Aug 1952.

***John W Larson 21 Jul 1925 9 Aug 1997 NAVY Enlisted 12 Apr 1944 Discharged 6 June 1946. ***REMOVED. F1 US Navy World War II on gravestone (Fireman 1st Class). US, Veteran Gravesites, 1779-2019.

***John C Larson 21 Jun 1925 4 Aug 2006 UNSTATED ***REMOVED. b. Muskegon, MI. John Carl Larson. “He served in the US Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946.” Obituary Detroit Free Press (Detroit MI) 07 Aug 2006, p. 15.

***John S Larson 6 Apr 1926 22 Dec 1999 UNSTATED John Sylvan Larson ***REMOVED. b. Billings, MT Obituary “John served his country proudly during World War II in the U.S. Navy on the USS Arenac [attack transport ship] from 1944-46.www.findagrave.com

***John Wilkinson Larson 11 Jan 1926 28 Jan 2009 NAVY ***REMOVED. Enlisted 4 Dec 1944 Discharged 15 Nov 1945. (not enough time to have finished Navy flight training school before the end of the war). b. Kanawha, IA. Obituary “[He] was born on a farm near Kanawha, attended country schools and graduated from Kanawha High School in 1943. He spent two years in the Navy. Upon completion of service, he farmed for a short time. John then worked and managed the Federal North Iowa Grain Company. . .” www.findagrave.com

John W Larson 22 Apr 1926 14 Jun 1994 NAVY Enlisted 15 Apr 1944 Discharged 30 May 1946. John William Larson b. Iron Mountain, MI. Post war Machinist Tool and Die (1950 US Census).

***Roland John Larson 5 Feb 1922 21 May 1996 NAVY b. Elkoder Clay, IA ***REMOVED. AOM2 US NAVY World War II on gravestone [Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Petty Officer, ie., not a pilot]. www.findagrave.com

***Harold John Larson 12 Apr 1911 1 Jul 1955 NAVY b. Chicago, IL. d. Portland, OR ***REMOVED. Enlisted 29 June 1944 Discharged 3 Dec 1945. (Assuming enrolled immediately in Navy flight training school July 1944, would have finished in June 1945, barely enough time to have been assigned a carrier and transported to the Pacific).

This completes survey of John Larson in All U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 results for John Larson in www.ancestry.com military records.
 
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All U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 results for Jack/John Larsen/Larson in www.ancestry.com military records. US MARINES ONLY:

***Jack M Larson 12 Jun 1922 27 Aug 1986 MARINES ***REMOVED. b. Corvallis, Ravalli, MT “ During World War II, he served in the Marine Corps 1943-46 and saw battle at Cape Gloucester, Peleliu Island, Palau Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands and was involved in the occupation of China and New Guinea. He received the Good Conduct Medal and was specially qualified as a rifleman.” Obituary www.findagrave.com

John C Larsen 21 Nov 1919 29 Jan 2008 MARINES b. Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska. John Clark Larsen. www.findagrave.com. “Jack Clark Larsen” US, WW2 Draft Card. Marriage announcement (11 Jan 1947). Former Marine Sergeant. www.newspapers.com The Syracuse Journal-Democrat (Syracuse NY) 10 Jan 1947 p.1. “He was a World War II veteran, having served with the United States Marines. He worked as a switchman for Union Pacific Railroad.” On-line Obituary in Wahoo Newspaper (Wahoo, NB) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wahoonewspaper/name/john-larsen-obituary?id=27363176

John F Larson 27 Jul 1914 1 Feb 1981 MARINES Enlisted 25 Oct 1943 Discharged 23 Dec 1945. b. Allston, Mass. Post war Fireman with the city fire dept (1950 US Census). Pre war Fireman (1940 US Census).

***John William Larson 13 Feb 1920 6 Dec 1985 MARINES ***REMOVED. Last service assignment in World War II – A Battery 1st Battalion 10th Marines, Marine Barracks Washington DC, Camp Pendleton CA. Iowa, US, Bonus Case files 1947-1954. A Battery unit is a type of Artillery unit, not an aviation unit.

***John J Larson 19 Dec 1924 16 Mar 1999 MARINES Enlisted 5 Nov 1942 Discharged 16 Dec 1945. ***REMOVED. PFC US Marine Corps World War II on gravestone (Private First Class). www.findagrave.com

John D Larson 29 Nov 1925 22 Dec 1973 MARINES Enlisted 23 June 1943 Discharged 26 Apr 1946. b. Everett WA, John Dale Larson. Post war Policeman (1950 US Census).

***John R Larson 15 Jan 1926 13 Dec 1992 MARINES Enlisted 23 June 1943 Discharged 3 May 1946. ***REMOVED. Obituary --- John R. “Dick” Larson. “He was a Corporal in the US Marine Corps serving in World War II . . .” The La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse WI) 14 Dec 1992, p.12. www.newspapers.com

***John Junior Larson 2 Apr 1926 26 Jul 1983 MARINES Enlisted 27 Sept 1943 Discharged 14 May 1946. b. Stanley Chip, WI. ***REMOVED. Corporal US Marine Corps World War II on gravestone. www.findagrave.

Wesley John Larson 9 Jan 1918 5 Jan 1989 MARINES b. Clayton Polk, WI. Post War Back Tender in a Paper Mill (1950 US Census). Pre war Laborer with the CCC.

***Donald John Larson 21 May 1922 31 Dec 2000 MARINES b. Seattle, WA. Post War Accountant in a Steel Factory (1950 US Census). ***REMOVED. Corporal USMC on gravestone. www.findagrave.com

John F. Larson, MARINES. b. 9 Apr 1922 d. 14 Sept 2010 in Canton, OH. Served in the US Marines during World War II. https://www.gordonfuneralhomes.com/obituary/John-Larson
 
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Summary of Jack/John Larsen/Larson US Navy World War II Veterans recorded in the Dept of Veteran Affairs BIRLS Death files who could have been a US Navy carrier pilot during World War II. www.ancestry.com

1. Jack A Larsen 24 Nov 1923 5 Nov 2009 NAVY (Ship?). LCDR USN World War II, Korea [Lt. Commander, US Navy] on gravestone. b. Kansas City, MO. Jack Aubertin Larsen. Naval aviator. Flew missions in the South Pacific and Korea. 22 years in the Navy. Discharged 1964. www.findagrave.com . Obituary. www.newspapers.com. Residences include Springdale, Arkansas. Spouse Dorothy Delores Larsen. The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA) 25 Nov 2009, p.26. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68 below)

John H Larsen 24 May 1922 20 Apr 2010 UNSTATED b. Douglas, Nebraska. Commander, US NAVY WW2 Korea on gravestone. www.findagrave.com m. 21 Sept 1946 Nola Jean Larsen. John Henry Larsen. www.findagrave.com m. 21 Sept 1946 Nola Jean Larsen. John Henry Larsen. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John P Larsen 31 Dec 1916 18 Oct 1981 NAVY. Only 1 John P Larsen listed in US Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949, a Radio Technician 2nd Class Petty Officer. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John Larsen 6 Oct 1915 9 Jan 1986 UNSTATED Not Enough Info

John W Larsen 7 Sep 1914 11 Mar 1990 NAVY [1943-1946] ***National Guard. Enlistment Place Teaneck, NJ. 24 May 1940. b. New York, NY. Wife’s name Elynor Waterhouse Larsen. WW2 Draft Card. John Walter Larsen. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John J Larsen 8 Mar 1914 10 Feb 1990 NAVY b. St. John, New Brunswick, Canada d. Quincy MASS. John Joseph Larsen.US Social Security Applications and Claims Index. Naturalized American citizen 1941. Wife Mary Elizabeth Larsen. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John T Larsen 13 May 1926 3 Nov 2001 UNSTATED b. John Taylor Larsen in Riverside Bi/ Groveland/ Blackfoot, Idaho. US NAVY 1944-1946. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John J Larson 24 Dec 1916 8 Aug 1974 UNSTATED b. John Joseph Larson in Brooklyn, NY, d. Connecticut. American Seaman in 1935. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John Arthur Larson 21 Jul 1916 26 Nov 1991 NAVY. Enlisted 4 Apr 1942, Discharged 29 Dec 1945. Last Residence Green Valley, AZ. b. Shawano, WI. Retired from the USNR in 1976 with the rank of Commander. BA in Music U of WI, MA U of AZ. Bronze Star for Valor. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

2. John Charles Larson
25 Feb 1919 24 Aug 1989 NAVY b. Sheboygan, WI. Registration Date 16 Oct 1940 Place Dallas, TX. Employer Dallas Aviation School. Enlistment Date 17 June 1942 Discharge Date 25 Aug 1944. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers, (see post # 68 below)

5. John Melvin Larson
3 Sep 1922 11 Feb 2000 NAVY b. La Salle, IL. Lt. US Navy World War II Korea on gravestone (Lieutenant US Navy). www.findagrave.com. Known as Melvin Larson 1940 and 1950 US Census. Enlisted 16 Dec 1942 Discharged 15 Jun 1947. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68 below)

John A Larson 19 Apr 1922 13 Nov 1994 UNSTATED Enlisted 9 Mar 1943. b. Colorado, d. Wyoming. Post war bakery truck driver (1950 US Census). John Albert Larson. Pre war bakery truck driver in Laramie, WY [??? John A Larson 665 63 32 Cox, USS Epping Forest] NOT LIKELY. Post war occupation doesn't jive with career path of a Navy carrier aviator, the elite of the WW2 US Navy Pacific fighting force.

John D Larson 17 Sep 1922 31 Dec 1991 NAVY b. Donaldson, MN d. Minneapolis, MN Post war Sales clerk in a paint store (1950 US Census). John Donald Larson. Enlisted 05 Aug 1943 Discharged 15 Dec 1945. Mother’s maiden name Wooley. NOT LIKELY. Post war occupation doesn't jive with the career path of a Navy carrier aviator, the elite of the WW2 US Navy Pacific fighting force.

3. John Charles Larson 9 Jun 1923 16 Mar 1982 UNSTATED b. Minneapolis, MN John Charles Larson, jr. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68 below)

4 . John Donald Larson 6 Feb 1924 1 Dec 2003 UNSTATED Father Bertil G. Larson. CDR US NAVY on gravestone (Commander, US Navy). Spouse Majorie Mae Bergstrom b. Mahaffey PA. Service No. 819 10 30. Service 15 Apr 1943 – 2 Nov 1945. “Mr. Larson also graduated . . . in 1941, after which, he served 31 months in the Naval Air Corps.” Marriage Announcement Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA) 21 Sep 1946, p. 4. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68 below)

John Arthur Larson 4 May 1925 10 Apr 1984 NAVY b. Santa Monica, CA. Enlisted 13 Jan 1944 Discharged 20 June 1946. Last residence Los Altos CA. PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John V Larson 1 Aug 1925 3 Nov 1975 UNSTATED b. Minneapolis, MN d. Ramsey, MN PILOT STATUS UNSUPPORTED.

John W Larson 22 Apr 1926 14 Jun 1994 NAVY Enlisted 15 Apr 1944 Discharged 30 May 1946. John William Larson b. Iron Mountain, MI. Post war Machinist Tool and Die (1950 US Census). NOT LIKELY. Military M.O.S. (Military Occupational Specialty) likely had something to do with his post war occupation (Machinist not carrier pilot).
 
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All Naval Aviators named Jack/John Larsen/Larson, designated or classified as pilots, from US Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Navy and Reserve Officers, 01 Jan 1943, 01 July 1944, 01 Apr 1951, 01 July 1955, 1970 (v.1), and 01 Oct 1984 [b. >1905]. www.ancestry.com.

Name, Rank, Classification [A-V(N or T) = 131x = Aviator/Pilot], Effective Date, Year of Birth

1. Larsen, Jack A, Ensign, A-VN, SEP-01-43, b. 1923 [Larsen, Jack Aubertin, LCDR, 1313, Ret.JUL-64, JUL-01-54, 1923] (*This is the Jack Larsen from the Leiningers' book 'Soul Survivor')

2. Larson, John C, LTjg, A-VT, MAY-01-43, b. 1919 [Ensign, A-VT, n/a, Feb 1919]

Larson, John C, LTjg, 1315, JAN-47, b. 1924

3. Larson, John C, jr., LTjg, 1315, MAR-01-48, b. 1923

4. Larson, John D, LTjg, 1315, JAN-01-47, b. 1924 [LT, 1315, JUL-15-51] [CDR, 1319, Ret. 12-69, JUL-01-65, 1924]

Larson, John L, LT, A-VN, APR-01-44, b. 1916 [Ensign, A-VN, 1-09-42, Dec 1916] [LCDR, 1355 (135=not a pilot), JUN-01-44]

5. Larson, John M, Ensign, A-VN, DEC-16-43, b. 1922 [LTjg, 1315, APR-01-45] [LT, 1315, MAR-07-50] [LT, 1319, Ret. 09-66, MAR-07-50, 1922]
 
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Moving right along . . . we're going to need Rosters for all Navy (and Marine) squadrons that served aboard each of the named aircraft carriers in post # 53 above and repeated below:

Named aircraft carriers and attached squadrons:

1. USS Bennington (CV-20): VT-1, VB-82, VT-82, VF-82, (Marine squadrons: VMF-112, VMF-123)
2. USS Bunker Hill (CV-17): VF-4, VT-4, VF-8, VT-8, , VT-17, VF-18, VF-84, VBF-84, (Marine squadrons: VMF-221, VMF-451)
3. USS Enterprise (CV-6): VF-6, VF-10, VT-10, VF-14, VF-20, VF(N)-78
4. USS Hancock (CV-19): VF-2, VBF-6, VF-6, VF-7, VF-80, VF(N)-75, VBF-92
5. USS Hornet (CV-12): VB-2, VF-2, VT-2, VF-11, VT-11, VF-15, VT-15, VF-17,
VT-17
6. USS Lexington (CV-16): VB-16, VF-16, VT-16, VF-19, VT-19, VF-20, VT-20, VF(N)-76, VBF-9
7. USS Natoma Bay (CVE-62): VC-9, VC-61, VC-63, VC-81
8. USS Princeton (CVL-23): VF-23, VF-17, VC-23, VF-27, VT-27

9. USS Randolph (CV-15): VB-12, VB-16, VF-16, VT-16
10. USS Yorktown (CV-10): VF-1, VT-1, VF-3, VBF-3, VF-5, VF(N)-77B
11. USS White Plains (CVE-66): VC-4

Note: VB = Bomber squadron; VF = Fighter squadron; VT = Torpedo squadron. VC =Composite squadron (ie., mixed bomber, fighter, and torpedo). VF(N) = Night fighter squadron. VBF = Fighter bombing squadron. VMF = Marine Corps fighter squadron.
 

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The Roster for USS Randolph's officers shows no Jack/John Larsen/Larson on any of the ship's personnel lists of officers, and therefore on none of its squadron lists ( squadrons VB-12, VB-16, VF-16, VT-16) , as of 01 Sept 1945 (end of the war in the Pacific and day before Japan signed formal surrender documents):
https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021547.pdf

The Roster for USS White Plains' Pilots of VC-4 squadron shows no Jack/John Larsen/Larson. Nor any Larsen or Larson for that matter. Appendix B (page B-7) in
https://www.navsource.org/archives/03/0306611.pdf


The Roster for USS Hornet's VT-17 squadron officers shows no Jack/John Larsen/Larson, nor any Larsens or Larsons. Source: https://vt17.com/blog/archives/tag/uss-hornet VT-17 Chronology VT-17 Roster of Officers pp.4,5

The Roster for USS Natoma Bay's VC-63 squadron officers (20 May 1943 - 16 July 1944) shows no Jack/John Larsen/Larson, nor any Larsens/Larsons. Source: https://natomabaycve62.org/logbook/pdfs/LogbookVC63.pdf
(USS Natoma Bay's VC-63 (VT Pilots only): No Larsens/ No Larsons. Source: https://natomabaycve62.org/logbook/VC63.html)


The Roster for USS Natoma Bay's VC-81 (Composite Squadron 81) (#7 above) shows a Lt (jg) Huston, James M. (compare with Lt (jg) James M. Huston, VC-81, USS Natoma Bay, see post # 53 above) as well as a Lt (jg) Larsen, Jack A. (Compare with Lt (jg) Jack Aubertin Larsen, ship not mentioned, squadron not mentioned, see posts #s 67 and 68 above). Source:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/46483881/logbookvc81-uss-natoma-bay-cve-62 )

Photo of 11 USS Lexington (unnamed but certainly VF-16*) pilots (Nov 1943) showing no Larsens/Larsons. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/5190026477 *Confirmed: caption of identical photo in Robert Hargis, Naval Aviator, 2002, p.22.

The Roster of USS Lexington's officers for 1943, 1944, and 1945 shows no Jack/John Larsen/Larson. Source: https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv16-46/139.htm

Eight months before the attack on Pearl Harbor (7 Dec 1941) which brought America into WW2, the US Navy published a Directory of all Navy and Marine officers titled “Navy directory: officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, also including officers of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force (active), Marine Corps Reserve (active), and foreign officers serving with the Navy. published April 1, 1941. It lists one Jack/John Larsen/Larson, a John Larsen, Chief Gunnery Officer aboard the US Navy destroyer USS Whitney. So he was not a pilot. There were no other Jack/John Larsen/Larsons listed. Source: https://archive.org/stream/navydirectoryoff1941unit/navydirectoryoff1941unit_djvu.txt
 
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Summary of Results. WW2 US Navy pilots named James whose father was also named and known as James, who were shot down or presumably shot down by the Japanese, the aircraft carrier stationed on at time of death, date and location of death. (copy of results from post # 53):

1. BOIES, James R, ENSIGN, 145950, Fighting Squadron 5, USS Yorktown, Wake Island raid, October 6, 1943
2. CALDWELL, James E Jr, ENS, O-114415, USNR, USS Enterprise, location Solomon Islands, missing, date of loss October 26, 1942
3. CONNERS, James R Jr, ENS, O-301602, USNR, USS White Plains, location Philippine Sea, missing, date of loss October 25, 1944
4. DARRACOTT, James C, LTJG, 301611, Fighting Squadron 20, USS Lexington, later Luzon operations, December 14, 1944
5. HAWKINS, James I, ENS, O-305999, USNR, , USS Bunker Hill, location Philippine Islands, missing, date of loss November 13, 1944
6. HUSTON, James M Jr, LTJG, O-306452, USNR, USS Natoma Bay, location Central/South Pacific Theater, missing, date of loss March 3, 1945
7. MCCALLEN, James L Jr, LT, O-106042, USNR, USS Hancock, location Japan, missing, date of loss October 10, 1944
8. MCPHERSON, James H, Lieutenant Commander, O-100312, USN, USS Randolph, Squadron VF-16, location Japan, missing, date of loss August 13, 1944
9. MCVEIGH, John J, ENS, O-368480, USNR, USS Hornet, location Central/South Pacific Theater, missing, date of loss November 3, 1944
10. MILLER, James Dorn, Lieutenant (Jg), USNR.
11. OWENS, James C Jr, LT, O-075974, USN, , missing, date of loss June 4, 1942 (pm) USS Hornet, June 4, 1942
12. PATTERSON, James Franklin, Lieutenant Commander, USNR. Missing in the Pacific. April 1945
13. SHIELDS, James A Jr, LTJG, O-130103, USNR, from Texas, USS Lexington, location Pacific Ocean: North American Area, missing, date of loss June 20, 1944
14. SKINNER, James B, ENS, 283262, USNR, location Pacific Ocean, missing, date of loss August 31, 1944
15. SYME, James W, Lieutenant Junior Grade, O-130176, USN, USS Princeton, location Caroline Islands, missing, date of loss March 31, 1944
16. TOLIVER, James E, Lieutenant, O-114839, USN, location Japan, missing, date of loss February 17, 1945 (pm), Fighting Squadron 12, USS Randolph, Iwo Jima assault and occupation, February 17, 1945
17. WATTS, James W, ENS, O-382417, USNR, USS Hornet, location Pacific Ocean, missing, date of loss May 3, 1945
18. YEARSLEY, James R Jr, ENS, O-403418, USNR, location Marianas Islands, missing, date of loss March 21, 1945, USS Bennington (see post # 52).

These are all the US Navy pilots who fit our criteria according to the early-bird claims of James Leininger, namely that the pilot in question:

1. Was a pilot. (uncontested)
2. Took off from a boat. (uncontested)
3. Was shot down by the Japanese. (uncontested)
4. Crashed and sank in the water. (uncontested)
(1 thru 4 could describe 1439 pilots from WW2. Source for US Navy and Navy Reserve Pilots KIA: https://www.history.navy.mil/resear...ion-personnel-fatalities-in-world-war-ii.html )
5. Was the "third James". (contested)
(Adding criterion # 5, narrows the list of possible US Navy pilots down to 18. In addition there were 2 US Marine Corps pilots who fit the criteria (from post # 56):

1. FLING, James L., Captain, USMCR, location Pacific Ocean, date of loss February 14, 1945 Carrier-based [USS Wasp – Source: VMF-216 wikipedia].
2. TURNER, James G, 2dLT, O-032712, USMC, location Pacific Ocean: North American Area, date of loss March 19, 1945, killed in action (mc). Stationed on aircraft carrier [USS Bunker Hill]. Pilot.
 
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In case anyone hasn’t realized it by now, I am attempting, what Sudduth might call, a “Likelihoodist” argument, ie, a “What are the odds that . . .” argument.

In light of that, we need to talk about criterion # 5 “He was the ‘third James’”. At issue is what did little James, at age 3, mean when he signed his air combat drawings “James 3”. By signing his drawings “James 3”, did he mean “James, [age] 3” or did he mean “James, [the] 3[rd] [James]”? After all, he started signing his name “James 3” in the late spring or early summer 2001, just a couple of months or so after he turned 3-years-old (on April 10, 2001).

Here is what Sudduth wrote about “James 3” (p. 1002, Journal of Scientific Exploration 35 (4), (an online open access journal) ) :

p. 1002, “7. NATOMA BAY, JACK LARSEN, AND JAMES 3

I [Michael Sudduth] have focused on the seven early-bird items Tucker lists (2016), but there are three other items Tucker discusses (2016). And in his chapter on James Leininger in Return to Life he regards them as additional early-bird claims. These are James allegedly giving his parents the names Natoma and Jack Larsen, and his signing his name James 3 on drawings of airplanes and battle scenes and his saying he was the third James.

We can easily dispense with “James 3.” James started signing his name James 3 months after he turned three-years-old. That he continued signing his name James 3 after he turned four is hardly surprising given the attention this behavior had elicited. Moreover, James may very well have believed that he was the third James. After all, he had already internalized the reincarnation narrative his parents had suggested under the influence of Carol Bowman. Given these contextual factors, there’s nothing psychologically peculiar here. There is nothing in need of an extraordinary explanation. [boldface added]”

Sudduth’s argument seems to be that Little James signed his name “James 3” because he turned 3 years old earlier that spring (April 10, 2001), a couple of months before he started signing his drawings “James 3” (so “James, [age] 3”). Fair enough. But then look what he does next. [BUT IF HE DIDN’T MEAN THAT], “James may very well have believed that he was the third James [when, asked what he meant by “James 3” by his parents, said that he was the “third James”]. After all, he had already internalized the reincarnation narrative his parents had suggested under the influence of Carol Bowman.”

Torpedoe-ing his own argument – that James meant “James, [age] 3” because he had turned 3 a couple of months before – Sudduth concedes that James may have meant “James, [the] 3[rd James]” when little James explained to his parents that he signed his name “James 3” because he was the “third James”.

Okay, says Sudduth, little James may have meant that he was the “third James” when he signed his air combat drawings “James 3”, but, BUT, says Sudduth, it was because his parents told him, after Carol’s advice, that he was/ is the reincarnation of some fighter pilot who died before he was born.

Notice how, according to my argument, it doesn’t matter why little James believed he was the “third James”, ie, the reincarnation of someone named James, whose father was also named (and known as) James. His mother/ grandmother/ aunt could have told him, for all I care, that he was the “third James” after she had seen “James [M. Huston], junior” on a list of the Natoma Bay war dead (downloaded Jan 7, 2001), and decided that, because her son/ grandson/ nephew, was also named James, that he was the man James was the reincarnation of.

If it turns out that (and I think it will in the end) that we find out that one and only one Jack/John Larsen/Larson also served as a fellow pilot in the same squadron on the same aircraft carrier as some WW2 aircraft carrier pilot named James, son of a man named and known as James, then we simply put the question to the most stubborn Skeptic: What are the odds that . . . ?
 
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Abbreviated TIMELINE excerpted from Jim Matlock’s TABLE 1. Timeline of Developments in the James Leininger Case (“CLARIFYING MUDDIED WATERS IN CORT RESEARCH: PART 1” James G. Matlock. JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION • VOL. 36, NO 1, pp. 107-109.

“2000, Aug 11. S3 JL [James Leininger] identifies little man as “me”, says S4 his plane crashed on fire S5 because it got shot by the Japanese. (MT; LLG 55-56) [see text]

2000, c. Aug. 14. First speculation about reincarnation from Bobbi [AL’s mother, JL’s grandmother]. (LLG 62)

2000, Aug. 27. JL again talks about little man, identified as “me,” says S7 his name was James; that S8 he flew Corsair S9 off boat S10 named Natoma. (MT; LLG 68-69) [See text]

2000, Aug. 27. BL searches for Natoma on internet, finds Natoma Bay. (MT; LLG 69-70) [See text, note 13]

2000, Oct. 5. JL [James Leininger] insists little man’s name was James, like his; asked if he remembers anyone else in the dream, says S11 Jack Larsen, another pilot. (LLG 78-79) [see text] [boldface added]

2000, Oct. 16. BL searches for Jack Larsen or Larson on American Battle Monuments Commission web site. (MT; LLG 87) [see text, n14]

2000, c. Nov. 1. Bobbi sends AL copy of CB’s Children’s Past Lives. (MT)

2000, Dec. 8. BL speaks with Leo Pyatt, the first Natoma Bay veteran he has been able to contact. (MT; LLG 97-98) [Leo Pyatt unexpectedly links a pilot ["he flew off one day"] named Jack Larsen to USS Natoma Bay, a WW2 era US Navy escort carrier serving in the Pacific theater 1944-1945]

2000, Dec. 25. Bobbi gives James a retro-looking pedal airplane for Christmas. He is enamored of it and later is filmed riding in it.

2001, Jan. 7. BL finds and downloads list of people killed on aircraft carriers in World War II. James M. Huston, Jr., is included, along with the designation CVE-62, the Natoma Bay. [n17]

2001, Feb. 18. First contact with Carol Bowman.

2001, Feb. 18. AL emails CB. Following her advice to encourage James to talk about his memories, nightmares reduce from 3-4 times per week to 1 time every week or every other week, although interest in planes continues. (MT; LLG xi, 101-3; date per CB 1/31/2022) [see text]

2001, April 10. James turns 3.

2001, late spring or early summer. B7 JL begins drawing aircraft battle scenes, signs some James 3. Asked why, he says S13 “I am the third James.” (MT; LLG 105-6; T-RTL 73) [see text, n19]”
 
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Summary of all Jack/John Larsen/Larsons, US Navy World War II Veterans recorded in the Dept of Veteran Affairs BIRLS Death files who were or could have been a US Navy carrier pilot during World War II. www.ancestry.com

1. Jack A Larsen
24 Nov 1923 5 Nov 2009 NAVY (Ship? Squadron?). LCDR USN World War II, Korea [Lt. Commander, US Navy] on gravestone. b. Kansas City, MO. Jack Aubertin Larsen. Naval aviator. Flew missions in the South Pacific and Korea. 22 years in the Navy. Discharged 1964. www.findagrave.com . Obituary. www.newspapers.com. Residences include Springdale, Arkansas. Spouse Dorothy Delores Larsen. The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA) 25 Nov 2009, p.26. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68)

John Larsen 6 Oct 1915 9 Jan 1986 UNSTATED Not Enough Info

2. John Charles Larson
25 Feb 1919 24 Aug 1989 NAVY b. Sheboygan, WI. Registration Date 16 Oct 1940 Place Dallas, TX. Employer Dallas Aviation School. Enlistment Date 17 June 1942 Discharge Date 25 Aug 1944. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers, (see post # 68 ) (Ship? Squadron?)

3. John Charles Larson 9 Jun 1923 16 Mar 1982 UNSTATED b. Minneapolis, MN John Charles Larson, jr. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68) (Ship? Squadron?)

4 . John Donald Larson
6 Feb 1924 1 Dec 2003 UNSTATED Father Bertil G. Larson. CDR US NAVY on gravestone (Commander, US Navy). Spouse Majorie Mae Bergstrom b. Mahaffey PA. Service No. 819 10 30. Service 15 Apr 1943 – 2 Nov 1945. “Mr. Larson also graduated . . . in 1941, after which, he served 31 months in the Naval Air Corps.” Marriage Announcement Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA) 21 Sep 1946, p. 4. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68) (Ship? Squadron?)

5. John Melvin Larson
3 Sep 1922 11 Feb 2000 NAVY b. La Salle, IL. Lt. US Navy World War II Korea on gravestone (Lieutenant US Navy). www.findagrave.com. Known as Melvin Larson 1940 and 1950 US Census. Enlisted 16 Dec 1942 Discharged 15 Jun 1947. SUPPORTED by lists of US Navy and Reserve Officers (see post # 68) (Ship? Squadron?)

6. Larson, John C, LTjg, 1315, JAN-47, b. 1924 (Ship? Squadron?)

7. Larson, John L, LT, A-VN, APR-01-44, b. 1916 [Ensign, A-VN, 1-09-42, Dec 1916] [LCDR, 1355 (135=not a pilot), JUN-01-44] (Ship? Squadron?)

Now all we have to do is find out the ship(s) and/or squadron(s) these Jack/John Larsen/Larsons served on/ in, compare the results to the list in post # 71 to determine whether there is any overlap. These two pilots, James, son of James, and Jack/John Larsen/Larson knew each other, were members of the same squadron, and served on the same aircraft carrier in the Pacific theater during WW2. One was "shot down by the Japanese" and "crashed and sank in the water" (and died), and the other survived the war.
 
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In 2009 Ken Gross and the Leiningers (Bruce and Andrea) authored the book, Soul Survivor. Just after publication Ken created a blog to lend his thoughts on the book and to provide a space for Bruce and Andrea to answer questions readers may have had regarding the book and any other facet of the "James Leininger story" that readers cared to ask about.

Here is the link to the blog, still online after 13 years (but closed to further questions sometime in 2015):
https://soulsurvivorbook.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/confessions-of-a-skeptic/ :

Actually I learned a couple of things from the Leiningers answers to readers' questions.

1) The National Archives (NARA) in College Park, Maryland can be a source of information about WW2 military units and ship's records which may be helpful in my research:

andrealeininger Says:
June 16, 2009 at 1:27 pm | Reply

Hi Patrick,
. . . Through records Bruce obtained from the National Archives, Bruce discovered that immediately before being assigned to Natoma Bay, Huston was in squadron VF-301, an elite squadron assembled to test the Corsair for carrier use. So while Huston didn’t fly a Corsair off Natoma Bay, he did have extensive experience flying that particular airplane. I hope that clears up the confusion.

[NARA Contact Information World War II Military Unit/Ship Records: Modern Military Records (NWCTM) National Archives at College Park 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001; https://www.archives.gov/college-park ]

and 2) Andrea kept a journal in which she documented at least some of the interactions and adventures she had with her young son while he was going through this period of remembering a past-life. Apparently, the Leiningers lost or threw out this journal shortly after Soul Survivor was published in 2009.

andrealeininger Says:
February 6, 2010 at 2:20 am | Reply
Hi Peter,
This is Dre. I’ll answer these for you since I was there for all of this. 1) I kept asking James if he remembered what his name was, and he always said “James”, which IS his name. I thought he was confused, just being two years old, so I asked “do you remember any one else you flew with? Any friends or anyone?” and his reply – which I wrote in my journal – was “Jack. Long Pause. Jack Larsen.” and 2) Note: Odd how certain things strike you! Dumb, really. I never thought to ask “what kind of plane were you shot down in?” We asked “Do you remember what kind of plane you flew?” He always said a Corsair. James Huston was shot down in a Wildcat. It was Bruce’s big hold out that this was some sort of coincidence. It wasn’t until Huston’s sister Annie sent us the family photo’s that we saw the pictures of James Huston in front of the Corsair. That was a big moment for us.
 
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