This is where Leymel joined the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment and become an orderly for Theodore Roosevelt.

When the U.S. entered World War I, Leymel finished out teaching in the 1916–1917 school year before resigning to re-enlist in the U.S. Army.

Leymel reported to the Presidio of San Francisco for officer training and was stationed at Camp Kearny before being sent to Europe.

Leymel entered the race promising an open door policy for both supporters and opponents, a full review of the milk order, and small government.

Leymel even went so far as to have a secret vice fund where he paid private detectives to find, arrest and fine bootleggers.

[24] Another major contentious issue was the Fresno Fire Department and in particular the consumption of alcohol while both on duty and during Prohibition.

Leymel, being the both mayor and commissioner of public safety and welfare, was delivered a case where three firefighters were found intoxicated on duty.

During his second term, Leymel created and headed a good will tour of western cities by airplane to promote wine consumption in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boulder City, Reno, and Salt Lake City[28] Leymel also continued to the fight against Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, San Joaquin Light and Power, and Pacific Gas and Electric to lower rates, take over the local utilities, or create a public option for these utilities.

[31] Leymel attacked Merriam about his tax increases as a means of balancing the state budget during the Great Depression.

[34] Early in his new term, Leymel led the earliest efforts at historic preservation in Fresno County in order to save the original Fresno County Courthouse at Millerton from being inundated by waters collected by the building of Friant Dam along the San Joaquin River[35] The majority of Leymel's third term was consumed by local defense efforts due to the U.S. preparing and entering World War II.

Leymel also continued the push for a military base to be in Fresno which resulted in Hammer Field being built in 1942.

[37] 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[38] Leymel won a fourth term in April 1945 over California State Senator Hugh M. Burns.

This included the location and early site planning and work for the Veterans' Administration Medical Center.

Over 2,000 people including local and state dignitaries, fellow veterans, city staff, and members of the public attended his service.