Fort Toulouse and Fort Jackson are saying goodbye to an old friend and long-time reenactor. Leonard Bast passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2003. You can view Leonard's memorial page by Heartfelt Memorials, and add your own memories to the guestbook.

A few of our memories of Leonard: "I guess Leonard has been old ever since I first met him. But he had more stamina that just about any soldier I ever met. And it didn't take me long to understand what a true gentleman Leonard was. If you needed advice, Leonard always had a well reasoned answer that was frequently prefaced by a past experience. He was a gentle person (unless you screwed up the drill) who always had a cup of coffee (that would dissolve a pewter spoon) and a big smile under that big handlebar mustache. You always had a sense of pride to be in Leonard's unit at a place like Chalmette, where there were always plenty of soldiers who knew their stuff--because Leonard knew his. If anyone ever asked him why he did a certain movement a certain way and that they didn't think that was in the manual, Leonard would ask them, 'Well, which manual have you been reading? There were at least three of them.' And Leonard knew them all! I always dreaded yesterday. I will miss Leonard's friendship ! But whenever I drive into the park, he will always be there." - Ned "My favorite memory of Leonard is the look on his face when he realized that he suggested I bore out my touch hole to 9/16". I was talking to him about the reliability of flintlocks. He said that the modern weapons have touchholes drilled for priming with 4F powder. He told me that he enlarges the touchholes on all of his weapons. I asked how big to drill the hole. He said, 'About 9/16 of an inch.' I thought about that for a second and realized that the touchhole would be bigger than the bore of my .45 cal rifle! About that time he got a very sheepish look on his face and said, 'I mean, a little bigger than a sixteenth!' I also remember Leonard telling us that his wife was having her 50th wedding anniversary. I'll always remember the difference between a splitting axe and a cutting axe, too. Most of all, I remember Leonard doing Living History at age 76, which means I have at least 40 years left to enjoy this hobby!" - Tom "I have just found out the very sad news concerning Leonard, and I would like to weigh in on how much of a gentleman and gentle man he was. Sure, 'ol Sarge' could bark at you if you messed up (I remember him telling me "There's enough for two of ya there!), but he always had a story and a friendly cup of coffee for you. He would take you aside and give you suggestions as to what could be done to make your presentation better--most always with a cup of coffee in his hand--but you could take those suggestions to the bank! I will never ever meet anyone like him ever again. I know that he will be with me every time I think of Ft. Toulouse, and every time I drink a cup of camp coffee. I consider myself a better person for having known Leonard." - Mike M. "I will miss Leonard much. And I will never forget the grumbling that went on when Christi cooked beans in HIS coffee pot. Another Leonardism: on being shot at: 'The only thing that kept me from getting lower to the ground, were the buttons on my shirt.' I will miss you." - Craig As Ned said 'We all lost a good friend this afternoon.' Indeed. When I first started coming to Fort Toulouse and/or running in the same circles as many of the Fort Toulousers (about 8/9 years ago at Fort Maurepas, Fort St. Jean, Fort Loudon etc...) Mr. Leonard (as I always called him) was one of the first folks I met. The man always had time to talk, he always had something for you to drink and was always willing to sit down and just enjoy some good socializing/chatting. He was indeed one of the nicest folks I have met in 'reenacting' and I always went over to pay my respects to him when we were ever at an event together. When I heard of him falling ill last year at the Frontier Days event, it saddened me greatly. This news has the same effect. We'll miss you Mr. Leonard. Of all the times we talked, he never mentioned his service or his service record. I reckon most heroes are like that. Carry on Mr. Leonard and hold a spot for the rest of us." - Nita

"Leonard Bast, The 'Bear Bryant' of Re-enacting: I'll never forget that day in the sweltering heat, standing in rank waiting to proceed with our 18th century military marching exercises. My Dad, Sargent Fonteneau, usually administered the drills but on this particular occasion Leonard Bast would be in charge. Whenever Sargent Bast was making the calls of command, you could just anticipate that he will throw in an unfamiliar command and we would all screw up and look very amateur. It happened every time and this particular time would be no exception. We were going to do a marching drill for the public outside the walls of Fort Toulouse and there was a nice size crowd watching us that day. Before we got started Leonard ask if anybody had questions. I raised my hand and politely asked if he would go over the commands that he was going to use so we don't look so bad in front of the public. Well, Sargent Bast looked down at his feet, paused for a second, and then looked back up at me and with that deep grumbly voice said, 'You will do whatever command I tell you to do.' I felt as small as an ant, but as I reflect on those words I realize that I should know all of the commands at all times. If we are to be an elite group of marines and if we love what we are doing, then we as a team could execute any command with precise movement. That is any command within the manual. Yes at times Leonard would have blunt answers but they were to the point as well as words of wisdom that makes you think." - Joe Fontenot

"When Leonard made us a wooden trencher we really felt like we arrived in the group... We will miss you... - Danny and Myra Lewis

"I didn't think I'd ever met Leonard, then I looked twice at the photo, and I think I might have. My first year at Alabama Frontier Days (2000), Dad and I didn't know anyone. He didn't have any clothes and wasn't ready to dress up. I had some rather pitiful borrowed finery. We wandered around the sutlers and the camps, and generally felt like tourists. We ended up in the 1812 camp, and boy did things change! We met a great group of folks, who talked to us for HOURS. One particular older gentleman and I talked for what seemed like days. I remember being quite taken with his little lead pencil, which he'd made by pounding out a musket ball. I thought that was the trickiest thing I'd ever seen! I asked him where could I get one, and he promptly gifted me with his own. I still carry it in my pocket. In looking at the picture, I believe that gentleman was Leonard. What a thoughtful, fun, lovely man. He definitely perked me up, and made me feel much more like I was one of the gang, and not just a tourist for the day. He and Dad talked at length about all things manly and military, and I ended up getting bored and toddling off at that point, but I'll never forget his smile, and I'll always carry that little lead pencil with me." - Barbara in Tacoma