Private First Class Leighton was a member of the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 12 January 1952.

PFC Leighton was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.