Luther "Lee" Robert Leguire

Pastor Emeritus Luther (Lee) Robert Leguire passed away at the age of 90 on Friday, March 26, 2021 at approximately 12:30 P.M at the VA Medical Center in Lake City, Florida. Lee was born in Dayton, Ohio on December 18, 1930. His parents were Clyde and Nora Leguire.

Lee joined the Marine Corps in 1948 and took part in the Marine landing at Incheon, Korea, on September 15, 1950. One of the things that makes his story unique is that later that same month a photograph was taken of him that has since become iconic to veterans of the Korean War. While fighting for the capture of Seoul with E Company 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Regiment, Lee removed a North Korean flag from the top of the American Consulate and raised an American flag in its place. A sniper was firing while he raised the American flag.  On November 7, 1950, Lee was severely wounded, losing much of his leg, and left for dead near the Koto-ri in North Korea. He told God, “If You’ll let me live to come home, I’ll serve You the rest of my life!” Lee did indeed survive, although none of the other men in his squad were that fortunate. He recovered at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. He received the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Service Medal and retired from the Marines on November 30, 1951. His journey then led him to a job at Cecil Field until he resigned to move to Lake City, Florida and began a work for the Lord as he promised on the battlefield.  He started The First Apostolic Church of Lake City, Florida in April of 1962 where he remained Pastor until his retirement in October of 2020. 

He is preceded in death by his daughter Yulonda Leguire Revis.  He is survived by his daughter Beverly Reed (Don) and his son Lyndon Leguire (Sharon). Six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren still survive.

Memorial services for Pastor Emeritus L.R. Leguire will be conducted on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel with Pastor Chad Townsend officiating. Interment with military honors will be Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 2:30 P.M. at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. CDC guidelines regarding masks and social distancing with the COVID-19 Pandemic are encouraged to be followed. For those that are unable to attend the services, a live stream can be found the day of the service by going to the Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery Facebook page. 

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