Leland Ewalt was born on November 2, 1923 on the family farm near Knox City, Missouri, the son of John Edward, Jr. and Vern Snell Ewalt. He attended rural school and graduated from the Knox City High School. He served his country during WWII in the United States Army, from November 1943 to February 1946. He was assigned serial number 37627454. He was a rifleman in the 167 Infantry Regiment in the battles of New Guinea and the Philippines. He received a Bronze Star, Bronze Arrowhead and a Purple Heart for wounds received on August 11, 1944 in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Leland grew up on the family farm and continued to live there his entire life, he worked more than 60 years in the United Sates Post Office, as a Rural Carrier, out of Knox City, Missouri. He enjoyed the lifelong friends he made on his route and was a history buff, keeping clippings and pictures of the more memorable events. Leland was a member of the Knox City American Legion Post #358, Colony Masonic Lodge, receiving a 50-year pin and the Rural Postal Carriers Association.