Leon Rideout was Born Jan 15 1963 raised in Lancaster NH. During his Senior year he Enlisted in the United States Marine Corp Delayed Entry Program on Dec 13 1980.

Graduating White Mountais Regional High School in June 1981 he reported Parris Island SC August 26, 1981. Upon graduation he received orders to the Basic Electronics Course / Ground Radar School at 29 Palms Ca. He then received orders to 1^st Bn. 3^rd Marines Kaneohe Hi. While with 1/3 he deployed on West Pac 83 and West PAC 84. After returning from West Pac 84 he received orders to 2^ndBn 3^rd  Marines and deployed for West Pac 84-85. He was discharged from active duty August 1985. Then Re enlisted to USMCR April 1987 as an infantry Squad Leader in Bravo Company 1^st Bn 25^th Marines. The unit was activated for Desert Shield / Desert Storm November 1990 Ssgt. Rideout served as the Platoon Sgt. For 1^st Platoon. Earning his VFW eligibility. Promoted to Gunnery Sergeant he served as the Weapons Platoon Sgt. and then as the Company Gunnery Sgt. Upon promotion to 1stSgt he was ordered to Report to Alpha Company 1/25. While with Alpha Company the unit was activated in support Of Operation Enduring Freedom December 2002 to November 2003. Upon his return he received orders to Report to H&S Company 1/25. While there the Unit activated For Iraqi Freedom from December 2005 to November 2006. His Awards includes:

Navy and Marine Corp Commendation x2

Combat Action X2

Good Conduct medal

Select Marine Corp Reserve Medal x

National Defense Medal x 2

Southwest Asia Service Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal

Global War On Terrorism service Medal

Sea Service Deployment x 5

Arctic Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device x 3

Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia

Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait

1stSgt Rideout retired from the Marine Corp September 2007. He has been active in local Government serving on the Fire Department for 30 years and on several boards and committees including as Selectman 1992-1995 then 2010 to the present and as a State Representative from 2013-2017. He joined the VFW in 1991 at John W Weeks VFW Post 3041 Lancaster NH. He has held the positions of Trustee, Adjutant, Post Commander and District Commander. He is also a Member of the Military Order of the Cootie and has held the position of Keeper of the Crummy Record and Seam Squirrel at the Weekenders Pup Tent 3 Lancaster NH.  He currently serves as Coos County Register Of Deeds.

 He has been married to his wife Cora for 37 years and they have 2 daughters and 5 Grandsons and 1 Granddaughter and reside in Lancaster.