Decorated veteran reflects on Pearl Harbor anniversary

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- George Leyva remembers Dec. 7, 1941 vividly. He was in high school and living in Los Angeles when he heard about the attack on Pearl Harbor on the radio.

About a year later, he was drafted into the U.S. Air Force to fight in World War II.

"Once I got the training, I wanted to be part of it," said Leyva.

After Leyva trained for months, he and his team were assigned to a B-17 that they called the Queen of the Ball. They were stationed in Paulbrook, England.

Leyva was an aircraft mechanic and a machine gunner and had numerous brushes with death, including his first mission.

"We had our engine, our No. 3 engine, knocked out right away. We couldn't keep up with the formation, we had to drop out," said Leyva. His team survived 31 missions including D-Day.

Once the war was over, Leyva and his team remained lifelong friends.

"All 10 of us, we kept in touch with each other. And now they're all deceased, I'm the last one," Leyva said.

The Legion of Honor from the French government is just one of many awards Leyva has received for his service.

He now resides at the Emerald Court Senior Living Community which is home to 80 other veterans.

He believes many people have forgotten why we fought in WWII and sends this message of encouragement, "Be a good, loyal citizen and be proud of your country. And be able to serve however you can, if the time comes up."

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