Turney W. Leonard

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Turney W. Leonard
June 18, 1921 - c. November 6, 1944
Place of birth	Dallas, Texas
Place of death	KIA, Kommerscheidt, Germany
Allegiance	U.S. Army
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Medal of Honor

Turney W. Leonard (June 18, 1921 - c. November 6, 1944) was a mobile weapons platoon leader in World War II who posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

He displayed extraordinary heroism while commanding a platoon of mobile weapons at Kommerscheidt, Germany, on 4, 5, and 6 November 1944. During the fierce 3-day engagement, he repeatedly braved overwhelming enemy fire in advance of his platoon to direct the fire of his tank destroyer from exposed, dismounted positions. He went on lone reconnaissance missions to discover what opposition his men faced, and on 1 occasion, when fired upon by a hostile machinegun, advanced alone and eliminated the enemy emplacement with a hand grenade. When a strong German attack threatened to overrun friendly positions, he moved through withering artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, reorganized confused infantry units whose leaders had become casualties, and exhorted them to hold firm. Although wounded early in battle, he continued to direct fire from his advanced position until he was disabled by a high-explosive shell which shattered his arm, forcing him to withdraw. He was last seen at a medical aid station which was subsequently captured by the enemy. By his superb courage, inspiring leadership, and indomitable fighting spirit, 1st Lt. Leonard enabled our forces to hold off the enemy attack and was personally responsible for the direction of fire which destroyed 6 German tanks.

[edit] Leonard's Aggie ring

Since Leonard was killed in battle and his position overrun by Germans, his personal effects were lost. However, 57 years after the battle which claimed Leonard's life at least one of his personal effects was returned. German Lt. Obit Volker Lossner had found Leonard's Aggie Ring among his father-in-law's possessions. His father-in-law had found the ring while relocating the graves of American soldiers killed during the battle. Volker returned the ring to Leonard's brother, Douglas Leonard, who then donated it to Texas A&M University where it is currently on display at the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center.^[1]

Leonard was member of the Texas A&M class of 1942.^[2]

[edit] References

^ http://www.tamu.edu/univrel/aggiedaily/news/stories/00/111300-12.html "Aggie Ring Returns Home After More Than 50 Years"], Texas A&M University, November 11, 2000.
^ Lt. Turney W. Leonard '42, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. (URL accessed May 14, 2006)