1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 962 1-3 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard of the 1-4 United States Army, who was raised in Dallas, Texas, and was 1-5 a 1942 graduate of Texas A&M University, lost his life after 1-6 heroic action in a World War II battle at Kommerscheidt, Germany, 1-7 in November of 1944; and 1-8 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard was posthumously awarded 1-9 the nation's highest award for bravery, the Congressional Medal of 1-10 Honor, upon the recommendation of his commanding officer, the late 1-11 Captain Marion C. Pugh, a fellow Texas A&M University graduate, 1-12 Class of 1941, who described First Lieutenant Leonard as "the 1-13 bravest man I ever saw"; and 1-14 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard's heroic actions during 1-15 the fierce November 4-6, 1944, encounter shortly before the 1-16 legendary Battle of the Bulge are described in the citation 1-17 that accompanied his Congressional Medal of Honor, which states: 1-18 "First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard, U.S. Army Company 1-19 C, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, for conspicuous gallantry 1-20 and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of 1-21 duty. Lieutenant Leonard displayed extraordinary heroism while 1-22 commanding a platoon of mobile weapons at Kommerscheidt, Germany, 1-23 on 4, 5, and 6 November 1944. During the fierce 3-day engagement, 2-1 he repeatedly braved overwhelming enemy fire in advance of his 2-2 platoon to direct the fire of his tank destroyer from exposed, 2-3 dismounted positions. He went on lone reconnaissance missions to 2-4 discover what opposition his men faced, and on one occasion, when 2-5 fired upon by a hostile machine gun, advanced alone and eliminated 2-6 the enemy emplacement with a hand grenade. When a strong German 2-7 attack threatened to overrun friendly positions, he moved through 2-8 withering artillery, mortar, and small arms fire, reorganized 2-9 confused infantry units whose leaders had become casualties and 2-10 exhorted them to hold firm. Although wounded early in battle, he 2-11 continued to direct fire from his advanced position until he was 2-12 disabled by a high-explosive shell which shattered his arm, forcing 2-13 him to withdraw. He was last seen at a medical aid station which 2-14 was subsequently captured by the enemy. By his superb courage, 2-15 inspiring leadership, and indomitable fighting spirit, 2-16 1st Lt. Leonard enabled our forces to hold off the enemy attack 2-17 and was personally responsible for the direction of fire which 2-18 destroyed six German tanks;" and 2-19 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Leonard's class ring was found 2-20 about 1946 by Mr. Alfred Hutmacher, a resident of Kommerscheidt 2-21 who was assisting in relocating the graves of American soldiers 2-22 killed during the battle two years earlier, and who stored it 2-23 away and essentially forgot about it for more than half a century, 2-24 not knowing its significance; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Mr. Hutmacher's son-in-law, German Army 2-26 Lieutenant Obit Volker Lossner, became aware of the ring in 3-1 mid-2000 and, wanting to return the ring to its owner, contacted 3-2 Colonel Thomas C. Fosnacht, a United States Army liaison officer 3-3 stationed in Germany; and 3-4 WHEREAS, Colonel Fosnacht, recognizing the significance of 3-5 the ring, contacted Texas A&M University officials, prompting 3-6 President Ray M. Bowen to invite Lieutenant Lossner to come to 3-7 Texas and personally return the ring to the family of 3-8 First Lieutenant Leonard; and 3-9 WHEREAS, More than 30 members of the Leonard family 3-10 attended the ceremony at Texas A&M University on Veterans Day, 3-11 November 11, 2000, at which time Lieutenant Lossner formally 3-12 presented the ring to First Lieutenant Leonard's brother, 3-13 Mr. Douglas Leonard of Dallas, Texas, who represented the entire 3-14 Leonard family; and 3-15 WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard announced at the ceremony that family 3-16 members wanted to give Lieutenant Leonard's ring and Congressional 3-17 Medal of Honor to Texas A&M University for permanent public display; 3-18 now, therefore, be it 3-19 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-20 77th Legislature, hereby express gratitude to Mr. Alfred Hutmacher 3-21 and to Lieutenant Obit Volker Lossner for returning the ring to 3-22 the Leonard family, and to Colonel Thomas C. Fosnacht for his 3-23 invaluable assistance in facilitating the return of the ring; 3-24 and, be it further 3-25 RESOLVED, That the Texas Senate hereby commend the family 3-26 of the late First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard for graciously 4-1 giving his class ring and Congressional Medal of Honor to 4-2 Texas A&M University so that all Texans, other Americans, and 4-3 other interested individuals from other countries will have the 4-4 opportunity to see these historical treasures and learn of the 4-5 bravery of one of Texas' finest sons; and, be it further 4-6 RESOLVED, That official copies of this Resolution be 4-7 prepared for members of the family of Turney W. Leonard, for 4-8 Mr. Alfred Hutmacher and Lieutenant Obit Volker Lossner, for 4-9 Colonel Thomas C. Fosnacht, and for the Archives of 4-10 Texas A&M University. 4-11 Ogden 4-12 Armbrister Gallegos Shapiro 4-13 Barrientos Harris Shapleigh 4-14 Bernsen Haywood Sibley 4-15 Bivins Jackson Staples 4-16 Brown Lindsay Truan 4-17 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 4-18 Carona Madla Wentworth 4-19 Duncan Moncrief West 4-20 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 4-21 Fraser Zaffirini 4-22 Ratliff, President of the Senate 4-23 ______________________________________ 4-24 President of the Senate 4-25 I hereby certify that the above 4-26 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-27 on May 14, 2001. 4-28 ______________________________________ 4-29 Secretary of the Senate 4-30 ______________________________________ 4-31 Member, Texas Senate