Medal of Honor: Turney W. Leonard – World War II – November 4–6, 1944
For three brutal days in Germany’s Hürtgen Forest, one young officer stood alone against chaos and armor. Wounded and outgunned, First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard fought on until his final breath — and stopped a German breakthrough.
November 6, 2025
Name: Turney White Leonard
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
Place and Date: Kommerscheidt, Germany – 4–6 November 1944
Entered Service At: Dallas, Texas
Born: June 18, 1921 – Dallas, Texas
Departed: Killed in Action, November 6, 1944 (last seen at a captured aid station)
Accredited to: Texas
Summary of Action
Amid the savage fighting in the Hürtgen Forest, First Lieutenant Turney W. Leonard led his tank destroyer platoon into the small village of Kommerscheidt. Over three relentless days, his courage and leadership would become legend.
When German tanks and infantry poured into the village, Leonard repeatedly left the safety of his vehicle to direct fire on enemy armor — standing exposed, coolly calling targets under a storm of shells and machine-gun fire. When one of his men faltered or a position broke down, Leonard was there — steady, unflinching, and precise.
He crawled forward alone to locate enemy strongpoints and personally silenced a machine-gun nest with a single grenade. When disorganized infantry units began to collapse under pressure, Leonard moved through intense fire, rallying the men, reorganizing lines, and urging them to hold fast.
Even after his arm was shattered by shell fragments, Leonard refused evacuation, continuing to command until he collapsed from blood loss. He was last seen being carried to an aid station later overrun by enemy troops.
His valor and calm under fire destroyed six German tanks, saved countless lives, and held Kommerscheidt long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
Medal of Honor Citation
Place and date: Kommerscheidt, Germany, 4–6 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.
