Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class William F. Leonard was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on November 7, 1944 in St. Die, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Leonard was 31 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 18, 2014, 69 years after the action — the White House to his daughter by President Barack Obama.
Leonard was born on August 9, 1913 in Lockport, Niagara County, New York. Leonard died on August 4, 1985 in Lockport, New York, at the age of 71. He is buried at Cold Springs Cemetery in Lockport, New York.
Leonard is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Private First Class William F. Leonard distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Squad Leader in Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near St. Die, France on November 7, 1944. Private First Class Leonard’s platoon was reduced to eight men as a result of blistering artillery, mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire. Private First Class Leonard led the survivors in an assault over a hill covered by trees and shrubs which the enemy continuously swept with automatic weapons fire. Ignoring bullets which pierced his pack, Private First Class Leonard killed two snipers at ranges of fifty and seventy-five yards and engaged and destroyed a machinegun nest with grenades, killing its two-man crew. Though momentarily stunned by an exploding bazooka shell, Private First Class Leonard relentlessly advanced, ultimately knocking out a second machinegun nest and capturing the roadblock objective. Private First Class Leonard’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, William F. Leonard received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 9, 1913Born in Lockport, Niagara County, New York
- November 7, 1944Act of valor — St. Die, FranceAge 31. Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
- August 4, 1985Died in Lockport, New YorkAge 71.
- March 18, 2014Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House to his daughter by President Barack Obama
- Resting placeCold Springs CemeteryLockport, New York
Biography
William F. Leonard (August 9, 1913 – August 4, 1985) was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Born in Lockport, New York, Leonard would enter the United States Army from Buffalo NY, on November 17, 1942. President Barack Obama posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor in a March 18, 2014, ceremony in the White House. The award resulted from a Defense Authorization Act which directed a review of all Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War who had been awarded lower-precedence valor awards to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “William F. Leonard”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
