Turney W. Leonard, MOH

 

 

 

 

 

Well Campers, we've got another Texas A&M Medal of Honor recipient to talk about.  This one has a couple of interesting facets and a somewhat happy ending.  So fasten your seat belts (always) and we'll be on our way!

Source

This fine gentleman is Turney White Leonard. (Yes Beans, those are actually his first, middle and last names,  I had to look twice also.). Born in 1921 and graduate from Texas A&M in 1942 with a degree in agriculture.  

Well, it is Texas Agriculture and Mechanical University officially.

Unfortunately, in 1942 we were at war and he was a platoon leader in the 28th Infantry Division.  In November 1944 that division's assignment was to lead an assault on the Siegfried line in the Hurtgen forest, on the Belgian/German border.  This was a very important mission and extremely difficult both because of the terrain, forests and German defenses.

During the fighting, all the command officers of the infantry unit his platoon was assigned to were incapacitated, Leonard assumed command, even though seriously wounded in his arm. Two days later a mortar round severed his wounded arm and he was brought to an aid station.  The Germans continued their attack and the aid station was moved further back.  The seriously wounded were left behind in the hope the Germans would provide care.  He would have none of that, got a rifle and went back to the line.  Unfortunately...His body was later found buried in a crevice that had been buried by a artillery blast. 

For his actions in this battle he was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 1st, 1945.  I think it was well deserved. 

But there's a bit more to the story.  In 1946, the Germans were helping the Americans find remains of the soldiers killed in the area.  One of the Germans found Leonard's Texas A&M ring.  The A&M Ring is a big deal for graduates of the University. The  German kept it for a while and then returned it to the University.  It is now on display there in the A&M Medal of Honor recipient display.

 

Texas A&M Ring 

Source

 Rest in peace, Sir! 

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.

 

 

 Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turney_W._Leonard

https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/turney-w-leonard 

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/leonard-turney-white   (The Ring).

https://historynet.com/battle-of-hurtgen-forest-fight-for-schmidt-and-kommerscheidt/   An excellent summary and explanation of the battle.