The majority of Leymel's third term was consumed by local defense efforts due to the U.S. preparing and entering World War II. He served as the local defense and preparedness coordinator which including organizing merchants for air raid blackouts, Boy Scout units to collect metal, and defense drills for the city schools. Leymel also continued the push for a military base to be in Fresno which resulted in Hammer Field being built in 1942. Leymel also started a campaign to crack down on prostitution in the city after receiving threats from military base commanders in the city that they would intervene if the brothels continued to operate freely. Leymel also began work on a memorial park at the corner of Broadway Street and Divisadero Street to honor U.S. military personnel for Battle of Bataan and Corregidor