Henry Damon McLeod, III

Mr. Henry Damon McLeod III, a disabled United States Army Paratrooper with 33 jumps to his credit, passed away August 5, 2017 at his home in Blytheville.

Damon was born in Blytheville to D.J. and Bonnie (Glover) McLeod and was a member of First Baptist Church.

He served his country honorably in the United States Army. Damon rose to the rank of E-5 Buck Sergeant from March 1982 through February 1989. He was awarded two Army achievement ribbons, his parachutist jump wings, a good conduct medal, an M-60 machine gun leadership medal, an Army Commendation Ribbon, as well as a Combat Infantrymen’s Badge that was earned for service in the country of Grenada, West Indies. He was then transferred to South Korea where he served guarding the border between communist North Korea and South Korea. After serving his time in South Korea, Damon was transferred back to Airborne duty at the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina for his second tour of duty. It was there he was promoted to E-5 Buck Sergeant and earned his second Good Conduct Ribbon. Later, he transferred to Bavaria, West Germany, where he was a sergeant of the guard securing nuclear missiles. This is also where his daughter, Jennifer Dee McLeod was born. Damon received his honorable discharge and came home to Blytheville.

Upon returning home, Damon attended Mississippi County Community College for a little over a year and was also a groundskeeper. He later worked for Orgulf Barge Lines where he traveled the lengths of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Illinois rivers. He also worked for American Greetings as a machinist. Damon was an avid baseball card collector and recently started collecting football cards and coins. He also liked to travel and collect matchboxes, napkins, or menus from the places he visited. Damon was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Arkansas Razorback fan.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a niece, Laura Hawkins.

Damon leaves his daughter, Jennifer Huffman and her husband Matthew of Blytheville; his mother, Bonnie McLeod of Blytheville; two sisters, Kerrie McLeod of Blytheville and Sharon Gardner of Caruthersville, Missouri; one granddaughter, Luna Claire Huffman; and a niece and nephew, Allison Gardner of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Graham Gardner of Caruthersville, Missouri.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 11 in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Cobb Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.