Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing stories of beloved Palomar neighbors, Bill and Grace Leibold. William R. Leibold had the most interesting life, retiring as a Navy Commander. With his lovely wife, Grace, they built a home on the Mountain in the shape of a ship, and enjoyed for 20 years. Their cabin was sold to Ken and Michelle Easton, who have been ‘at the helm’ since 2003.
Bill and Grace were high school sweethearts. He was on a ship at Pearl Harbor during Dec. 7th attack. A year later he was on the most decorated submarine during that time, the USS Tang with 87 officers and men. She sank October 25, 1944.
Grace received that dreaded telegram that told her Bill’s ship was lost at sea and he was presumed dead. For 15 long months she refused to believe the news.
After the war was over, Bill was found in a Japanese Internment Camp. He was one of nine men who survived that fateful night, all night, in the water and then endured the treatment of imprisonment. Because they were submariners, they were looked down upon by the Japanese, so they were given only half rations. Bill came back to America weighing less than 100 pounds. Some of the wives understandably went on with their lives and remarried. But not Grace, she waited for Bill.
They went on to have two sons and a daughter. “He was a loving husband and wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.” Many happy Fathers Days were celebrated in the Leibold family.
One of their sons, Jim, contacted me a couple weeks ago asking if the sign his father made was still in front of their family cabin. Jim explained that he bought a ranch in Arizona and was hoping to acquire the sign to hang above their driveway. Ken was so impressed with Bill’s military history that they had left the Leibold sign in front of their home to honor Bill’s memory. However, when I connected with Ken and told him of Jim’s request, he didn’t hesitate passing the sign on to Bill’s son.
So, I picked it up today and had the nicest visit with Ken and his daughter, Rose who came up for a quick trip to send the sign on it’s way. A certain cowboy I know will be driving through Az in a few weeks and a meet-up is planned with Jim.
Like to learn more about Jim’s dad? Click on the link below that will lead you to the other stories and lots of fun photos.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend…
Bonnie
Palomar Mountain News 
Hi Bonnie,
What a great gesture to get the sign to Bill’s son in AZ. I’m sure he will appreciate it.
Bill McKinley, Bill Leibold and I had lunch and a beer or two at Stone Brewery in Escondido around 2017. I was a Torpedoman’s Mate in the Navy so he and I talked about the Mark 18 torpedo that circled back around after the Tang launched it and struck the sub. Those early electric torpedos weren’t the most reliable.
Another time at his Escondido apartment he showed me some of his photos from his Navy days and he told me about some of the abuse from his Japanese captors at Ofuna POW camp in Japan before they were liberated.
The captain of the Tang, Dick O’Kane also survived the sinking and endured abuse by the guards at Ofuna. He and Bill remained friends until Capt O’Kane passed away. Dick O’Kane sometimes made trips to Palomar to visit his old shipmate.
Susie and I visited the WWII museum in New Orleans 7 or 8 years ago and went thru the USS Tang interactive display. It was pretty impressive.
Bill was a great guy and very much a gentleman. Thanks Bonnie for sharing the sign story and helping us to remember “Boats” Lebold’s story.
Cliff Kellogg
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By: Cliff Kellogg on June 21, 2026
at 1:56 pm
Thank you Cliff for posting some of your memories. I enjoyed so much during our visits when he would pull out that wonderful scrapbook he and Grace had put together. I remember him saying how thin the men were when they returned, but thankful he spared me the details. It is amazing what some of our military have lived through. Yes, quite the gentleman that absolutely loved his family and his country, in that order.
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By: Bonnie Phelps on July 16, 2026
at 9:48 pm
My Father, Warren L. Marlay was a Fire Control Officer on board submarines in the South Pacific, he would calculate the range, pressure,depth,current, speed of the vessel in the sights and placement of the torpedoes before firing them. He would be sent to computer school to learn the latest methods for torpedo placement, or switch leaves with a fellow crewman, who mixed up the date of his leave when his wife was waiting in Pearl Harbor for that scheduled week. When my Father was on his buddies leave, R&R in Pearl Harbor the submarine never returned. He was Blessed with a Guardian Angel, guiding him through horrible atrocities that no Human should ever witness or experience! He was assigned to the USS Tang, USS SeaWolf, USS Nautilus, and nine other submarines that never returned to Pearl Harbor! My Father loved the serenity and natural beauty of Palomar! He passed away happily 12 days before His 98th birthday! Love and Blessings for ALL!
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By: Warren Marlay on June 21, 2026
at 12:03 pm
Another amazing story of a great military man with a very blessed life. Something a book should have been written about. Guessing he might have been on the Tang when Bill was in charge and God had different plans to move your father, again and again. Thanks for sharing.
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By: Bonnie Phelps on July 16, 2026
at 9:43 pm