Page 57 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

MARINE COPRS
VIETNAM

AMARILLO

hypothyroidism as
well as others, and
than 5,000 Marines were assigned both his daughter
to CAP during the six years the and grandson have
program existed. inherited health
issues that are
After leaving the Marines, Leigh attributed to his
returned to Amarillo and reunited Program Manager. As a Program exposure to Agent
with a young lady he met in Manager, Leigh specialized in Orange. PTSD has been a constant
December of 1967. Rudy Purcell was Nuclear Nonproliferation, traveling companion for Leigh – a reminder
the sister of a high-school friend. 100 days a year or more to locations of his war experiences – in spite of
Rudy and Leigh were married on all over the U.S. and to several a lot of people saying, “just get over
June 19, 1970, and they celebrated foreign countries, including 14 trips it”.
their 50th wedding anniversary this to Russia. In Russia, Leigh was one
year (2020). of very few foreigners to visit the With all these issues, Leigh would
not change going to Vietnam. He
Marrying Rudy was the best Russian nuclear weapons design says that “to change anything
decision Leigh ever made! Rudy laboratories, and, during several changes everything.” Joining the
worked in several professions over trips to the United Kingdom, he military made him grow up and
the course of their marriage, but she assisted the UK nuclear weapons allowed him to have a wonderful
retired from Amarillo College as a facilities in their Nonproliferation family, get an exceptionally good
Professor in 2010. Their only child, programs. In addition, Leigh spent education, have a good career, meet
Jodi Lyn, was born in 1975. Jodi the year of 2005 on a temporary with world leaders, and help to
now teaches school at Southlawn duty assignment with the shape the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Elementary and is married to Dr. Department of Energy – being the policy for the United States. Leigh’s
Scott Verner, a Chiropractor in daily briefer to the Administrator life results are not bad for a young
Amarillo. Jodi and Scott have two of the National Nuclear Security man who came from a poor,
children: Adam, who attends Administration and the Secretary of working-class family; the strong
Amarillo College, and Ashlyn, who Energy. work-ethic he learned there at a
attends Amarillo High School. Serving in Vietnam, being exposed young age has certainly served him
Leigh put his GI bill to good use, to Agent Orange, and being well.
getting both a Bachelor of Science wounded multiple times have led
and a Master of Science from West Leigh to
Texas A & M. While getting his being 100%
bachelor’s degree, he joined the disabled.
ROTC and received a commission Agent Orange
in the U.S. Army Reserve. After exposure has
serving 17 years in the reserve, led to various
Leigh retired as a Major. illnesses,
including
In 1980, Leigh started work at peripheral
Pantex and retired after 30 years of neuropathy,
service. During his time at Pantex, heart
Leigh began as a technician in the disease, and
Medical Laboratory and then went
on to work as an Engineer and a

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