By Brown of Brazos H.R. No. 980
77R12184 MMS-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, United States Army First Lieutenant Turney W.
1-2 Leonard, who was raised in Dallas and was a 1942 graduate of Texas
1-3 A&M University, lost his life after heroic action in a World War II
1-4 battle at Kommerscheidt, Germany, in November 1944; and
1-5 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard was posthumously awarded
1-6 the nation's highest award for bravery, the Congressional Medal of
1-7 Honor, upon the recommendation of his commanding officer, the late
1-8 Captain Marion C. Pugh, a fellow Texas A&M University graduate,
1-9 Class of 1941, who described Lieutenant Leonard as "the bravest man
1-10 I ever saw"; and
1-11 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard's heroic actions during the
1-12 fierce November 4-6, 1944, encounter shortly before the legendary
1-13 Battle of the Bulge are described in the citation that accompanied
1-14 his Medal of Honor, which states:
1-15 "First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard, U.S. Army Company C,
1-16 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, for conspicuous gallantry and
1-17 intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
1-18 Lieutenant Leonard displayed extraordinary heroism while commanding
1-19 a platoon of mobile weapons at Kommerscheidt, Germany, on 4, 5, and
1-20 6 November 1944. During the fierce 3-day engagement, he repeatedly
1-21 braved overwhelming enemy fire in advance of his platoon to direct
1-22 the fire of his tank destroyer from exposed, dismounted positions.
1-23 He went on lone reconnaissance missions to discover what opposition
1-24 his men faced, and on one occasion, when fired upon by a hostile
2-1 machine gun, advanced alone and eliminated the enemy emplacement
2-2 with a hand grenade. When a strong German attack threatened to
2-3 overrun friendly positions, he moved through withering artillery,
2-4 mortar, and small arms fire, reorganized confused infantry units
2-5 whose leaders had become casualties and exhorted them to hold firm.
2-6 Although wounded early in battle, he continued to direct fire from
2-7 his advanced position until he was disabled by a high-explosive
2-8 shell which shattered his arm, forcing him to withdraw. He was
2-9 last seen at a medical aid station which was subsequently captured
2-10 by the enemy. By his superb courage, inspiring leadership, and
2-11 indomitable fighting spirit, 1st Lt. Leonard enabled our forces to
2-12 hold off the enemy attack and was personally responsible for the
2-13 direction of fire which destroyed six German tanks"; and
2-14 WHEREAS, When First Lieutenant Leonard's possessions were
2-15 returned to his family after the battle at Kommerscheidt, they did
2-16 not include his Texas A&M class ring, and the family assumed it was
2-17 permanently lost; and
2-18 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard's class ring was found
2-19 about 1946 by Alfred Hutmacher, a resident of Kommerscheidt, who
2-20 was assisting in relocating the graves of American soldiers killed
2-21 during the battle two years earlier, and who stored it away for
2-22 more than half a century, not knowing its significance; and
2-23 WHEREAS, Mr. Hutmacher's son-in-law, German Army Lieutenant
2-24 Obit Volker Lossner, became aware of the ring in mid-2000 and,
2-25 wanting to return the ring to its owner, contacted Colonel Thomas
2-26 C. Fosnacht, a United States Army liaison officer stationed in
2-27 Germany; and
3-1 WHEREAS, Colonel Fosnacht contacted Texas A&M University
3-2 officials, prompting President Ray M. Bowen to invite Lieutenant
3-3 Lossner to come to Texas and personally return the ring to the
3-4 family of First Lieutenant Leonard; and
3-5 WHEREAS, More than 30 members of the Leonard family attended
3-6 the ceremony at Texas A&M University on Veterans Day, November 11,
3-7 2000, at which time Lieutenant Lossner formally presented the ring
3-8 to First Lieutenant Leonard's brother, Douglas Leonard of Dallas,
3-9 who represented the entire Leonard family; and
3-10 WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard announced at the ceremony that family
3-11 members wanted to give First Lieutenant Leonard's ring and Medal of
3-12 Honor to Texas A&M University for permanent display; now,
3-13 therefore, be it
3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
3-15 Legislature hereby express its gratitude to Alfred Hutmacher and to
3-16 Lieutenant Obit Volker Lossner for returning the ring to the
3-17 Leonard family, and to Colonel Thomas C. Fosnacht for his
3-18 invaluable assistance in facilitating the return of the ring; and,
3-19 be it further
3-20 RESOLVED, That the family of the late First Lieutenant Turney
3-21 W. Leonard be commended for graciously giving his class ring and
3-22 Medal of Honor to Texas A&M University so that all Texans, other
3-23 Americans, and interested individuals from other countries will
3-24 have the opportunity to see these historical treasures and learn of
3-25 the bravery of one of Texas' finest sons; and, be it further
3-26 RESOLVED, That Texas A&M University be thanked for
3-27 facilitating the return of First Lieutenant Leonard's class ring
4-1 and for now publicly displaying it and his Medal of Honor, thus
4-2 allowing them to serve as a perpetual reminder of the bravery and
4-3 heroics of a young Texan who gave his life for the cause of freedom
4-4 on foreign land decades ago; and, be it further
4-5 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared
4-6 for members of the family of First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard,
4-7 for Alfred Hutmacher and Lieutenant Obit Volker Lossner, for
4-8 Colonel Thomas C. Fosnacht, and for the archives of Texas A&M
4-9 University.