Leo Howard Kerns was born on June 23, 1924 in Plano, Illinois.  He was one of six children, having three brothers and two sisters. 

Kerns went to high school in Illinois and received his BSBA from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1947, continuing on to receive LLB/Juris Doctor Degree from Georgetown Law School in 1950.

He entered the military as a Cadet in 1943, receiving his wings and commission in Jackson, Mississippi in January of 1944.  Making Flight Commander by the age of 20, Kerns flew numerous combat tours using the P-51, escorting bombers and conducting strafing missions.  He also performed a number of Air-Sea Rescue Missions and Photo-Recon Missions out of King’s Cliffe, England. 

Kerns is credited with two German aircraft destroyed and was decorated, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross twice and the Air Medal seven times. He mustered out of the service in November 1945. 

Kerns went back to the United States, where he became a member of the Bar of Illinois, District of Columbia and Supreme Court of the United States.

He is currently retired and living in Annapolis, Maryland, and has two children.