Warrior Mindset

Leon Stanford was drafted into United States Army during World War II when he was 18 years old.  Wanting to become an officer in the Army, the 120 pound Leon was denied that opportunity because they said he was too young and too small.  He eventually found his way to the 84th Infantry Division "The Railsplitters" on a small mortar team.     The 84th Infantry Division entered combat on November 18, 1944, with an attack on Geilenkirchen, Germany, (Operation Clipper) as part of the larger offensive in the Roer Valley, north of Aachen.  Operating under the command of Lt-Gen Brian Horrocks the division was supported by British tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. Operation Clipper was an Allied offensive by British XXX Corps and the United States 84th Infantry Division to reduce the Geilenkirchen salient.     Leon spent his first day in combat being pinned down in an apple orchard and fighting the Germans trying to take down the heavily fortified city of Ge