1. Corporal Kirchner was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Corporal Kirchner in the mid-1980s, as well as his appearances in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, W*ING, International Wrestling Association Japan, and Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling under the ring name Leatherface.
Corporal Kirchner enlisted in the United States Army as a teenager, becoming a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Penzel then adopted the ring name "Corporal Kirchner" and used a militaristic character with several vignettes airing showing him in typical army survival training exercises to help build his character as a patriotic American.
Corporal Kirchner is known for his feud with Nikolai Volkoff in the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 and into 1987 which included a victory over Volkoff at WrestleMania 2 in a Flag Match; they would trade victories, with Kirchner winning many of the early matches, but Volkoff coming up victorious in most of the matches near the end of the feud.
Corporal Kirchner was a member of the WWF's Australian tour in mid-1986, wrestling in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and was considered one of the toughest men in the WWF at the time.
Corporal Kirchner was considered one of the stiffest wrestlers in the WWF and his career suffered because many wrestlers were reluctant to work with him, and he was used as enhancement talent.
Corporal Kirchner was suspended by the WWF for testing positive for drug use in July 1987 and when his suspension ended, he declined to return and left the company.
In 2001, Kirchner was announced as a participant in the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania X-Seven.
Corporal Kirchner then powerbombed Ono onto the bed of nails.
Corporal Kirchner wrestled his final match in Tokyo, Japan on January 26,2010, teaming with Mr Pogo and The W*inger in a loss to Hisakatsu Oya, Ricky Fuji, and Tarzan Goto.
Corporal Kirchner died from a heart attack in Siler City, North Carolina, on December 22,2021, at the age of 64.