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