LEONARD, TURNEY W. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C, 893d
Tank Destroyer Battalion. Place and date: Kommerscheidt, Germany, 46 November
1944. Entered service at: Dallas, Tex. Birth: Dallas, Tex. G.O. No.: 74,
1 September 1945. 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.
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