Leslie “Red” Stanford Brustad was born March 7, 1911 in Bagley to parents Lorents and Anne Swenson Brustad. He grew up in Bagley and attended Bagley schools. He graduated from Bagley High School in 1931. He was working for L C Paulson at Clearwater Lumber Company when he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940.

Leslie joined the Navy September 18, 1943  and was sent to Farragut, Idaho for boot camp. His military specialty was radarman. He was stationed aboard the USS Saginaw Bay (CVE-82) with Company 825, Regiment 3, Battalion 12 for his entire enlistment. Launched in January of 1944 and commissioned in March, the Saginaw Bay served in support of the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, the Philippines campaign, the invasion of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa.

A member of First Lutheran Church, his interest in his home town community spread out to include a number of activities. While he was in school he was a member of the basketball team and took part in other sports as well. After graduation he was a valued member of Bagley’s baseball team for a number of years and in later years switched his sports activity to horse shows as a member of the Bagley Saddle Club. An active member of the Legion Post 16 of Bagley, Les had served his post well as commander in 1955 and for 20 years was a member of the Bagley Fire Department.

Leslie died of a heart attack at work on March 5, 1964 and is buried in Bagley City Cemetery.

Plot: 1      Side:  North       Row from Bottom: 3

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