A native of Dallas, Texas, Leonard graduated from Dallas Technical High formerly Dallas High School, then Texas A&M in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture.
Commissioned in 1942 via the ROTC program at Texas A&M, Leonard served as a platoon leader in Company C, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. In October 1944, it was attached to support the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division during that unit's assault on the Siegfried Line through the Huertgen Forest area along the German-Belgian border.
In early November 1944 First Lieutenant Leonard of Company C, 893rd, faced hostile German forces along the Belgium-German border in the battle of the Huertgen Forest, one of the more vicious and most forgotten American engagements of World War II. As a platoon commander of mobile weapons near the German village of Kommerscheidt, Leonard provided inspiring leadership against overwhelming enemy fire on November 4, 5, and 6. After taking a reconnaissance mission, Leonard encountered hostile fire from a German machine gun which he eliminated with a hand grenade. On another occasion when a German attack threatened to overtake friendly positions, Leonard "moved through withering artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, reorganized confused infantry units whose leaders had become casualties, and exhorted them to hold firm." Wounded early in the fighting, Leonard continued to issue commands until a high-explosive shell shattered his arm. Forced to withdraw, Lieutenant Leonard headed to a medical aid station and was not seen alive again. The station was later taken by the Germans. On November 27, 1944, Lily Leonard received a telegram reporting that her son was missing in action, raising hope that he was still alive as a prisoner of war.
Captain Pugh wrote the recommendation that Leonard be awarded the Medal of Honor which was approved by Gen. Courtney Hodges, First Army's commanding general. Maj. Gen. Walton H. Walker presented the medal to Leonard's mother in Dallas at the Headquarters, Eighth Service Command on October 24, 1945. Leonard's body, however, was not recovered until November 1949. The body was found in a caved-in dugout near where Leonard was last seen alive. On May 30, 1950, Turney Leonard was eulogized at a ceremony at Crozier Technical High School in Dallas. During the program, Marion Pugh stated: "Turney Leonard was the bravest and finest person I ever saw or knew. I owe my life to him and there are three hundred others who feel as I do." The next day, Turney Leonard was buried at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas.
Fifty years later, Turney Leonard was the subject of news reports out of Germany. In 1946 a young German, Alfred Hutmacher, found Lieutenant Leonard's Texas A&M class ring when aiding American authorities in searching for remains of soldiers. Hutmacher kept the ring. Fifty-four years later, Hutmacher's son-in-law, German army Lt. Volker Lossner discovered the ring and saw the name Turney Leonard engraved on it. Lossner took the ring to the U.S. Army Liaison Office in Bonn where the ring was identified as a Texas A&M Class ring by Col. Thomas Fosnacht. After a basic internet search, Fosnacht realized the significance of Turney Leonard and the ring and began the process of contacting Texas A&M. On November 11, 2000, Lieutenant Lossner returned Turney Leonard's Aggie class ring to members of the Leonard family in ceremonies at Texas A&M.
Commissioned in 1942 via the ROTC program at Texas A&M, Leonard served as a platoon leader in Company C, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. In October 1944, it was attached to support the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division during that unit's assault on the Siegfried Line through the Huertgen Forest area along the German-Belgian border.
In early November 1944 First Lieutenant Leonard of Company C, 893rd, faced hostile German forces along the Belgium-German border in the battle of the Huertgen Forest, one of the more vicious and most forgotten American engagements of World War II. As a platoon commander of mobile weapons near the German village of Kommerscheidt, Leonard provided inspiring leadership against overwhelming enemy fire on November 4, 5, and 6. After taking a reconnaissance mission, Leonard encountered hostile fire from a German machine gun which he eliminated with a hand grenade. On another occasion when a German attack threatened to overtake friendly positions, Leonard "moved through withering artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire, reorganized confused infantry units whose leaders had become casualties, and exhorted them to hold firm." Wounded early in the fighting, Leonard continued to issue commands until a high-explosive shell shattered his arm. Forced to withdraw, Lieutenant Leonard headed to a medical aid station and was not seen alive again. The station was later taken by the Germans. On November 27, 1944, Lily Leonard received a telegram reporting that her son was missing in action, raising hope that he was still alive as a prisoner of war.
Captain Pugh wrote the recommendation that Leonard be awarded the Medal of Honor which was approved by Gen. Courtney Hodges, First Army's commanding general. Maj. Gen. Walton H. Walker presented the medal to Leonard's mother in Dallas at the Headquarters, Eighth Service Command on October 24, 1945. Leonard's body, however, was not recovered until November 1949. The body was found in a caved-in dugout near where Leonard was last seen alive. On May 30, 1950, Turney Leonard was eulogized at a ceremony at Crozier Technical High School in Dallas. During the program, Marion Pugh stated: "Turney Leonard was the bravest and finest person I ever saw or knew. I owe my life to him and there are three hundred others who feel as I do." The next day, Turney Leonard was buried at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas.
Fifty years later, Turney Leonard was the subject of news reports out of Germany. In 1946 a young German, Alfred Hutmacher, found Lieutenant Leonard's Texas A&M class ring when aiding American authorities in searching for remains of soldiers. Hutmacher kept the ring. Fifty-four years later, Hutmacher's son-in-law, German army Lt. Volker Lossner discovered the ring and saw the name Turney Leonard engraved on it. Lossner took the ring to the U.S. Army Liaison Office in Bonn where the ring was identified as a Texas A&M Class ring by Col. Thomas Fosnacht. After a basic internet search, Fosnacht realized the significance of Turney Leonard and the ring and began the process of contacting Texas A&M. On November 11, 2000, Lieutenant Lossner returned Turney Leonard's Aggie class ring to members of the Leonard family in ceremonies at Texas A&M.