Texas Veterans Commission Journal, Volume 24, Issue 1, January/February 2001 Page: Page2
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Aggie Ring Returned
After 56 Years
By Laura Hensley, Eagle Staff Writer
The Bryan-College Station Eagle
It's an anniversary that has passed without celebration for Turney Leonard's family for 56
years. Now, his family has found reason to rejoice.
Exactly 56 years after the Texas A&M graduate died during combat in World War II -
the family learned that a symbol of Leonard's spirit is returning home to Texas.
On Kyle Field during halftime of the A&M-Oklahoma football game, Leonard's 1942
Aggie class ring was returned to the only surviving sibling and older brother, Doug.
On November 7, 1944, Leonard, a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army, died on a battlefield near
Kommerscheidt, Germany.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery. His body was recovered in 1950, but Leonard's class
ring remained missing. It was the one personal memento that had not been returned to the family - until now.
"It's just like a part of him is home," said Leonard's niece, Karen Kershaw of Duncanville, Texas. I can't tell you the
feelings I have. He was like a big brother to me."
Kershaw said "wild horses couldn't keep her away from Saturday's presentation. Kershaw, along with other family
members, will arrive in College Station on Friday.
A German military officer has the ring. It initially was believed to have been found by the officer's grandfather, who in
turn passed it down to him.
However, Kershaw shed new light on the ring's missing 56-year history. She said the ring was found in 1946 by a man
digging graves near Kommerscheidt. How the ring has ended up in the German officer's hands remains unclear. The
officer has asked to remain unidentified until Saturday.
He will present it to the family in person. He knew the ring's owner because of the "Turney W. Leonard" inscription on
the inside of the band.
The German officer decided he wanted to return the ring and contacted U.S. Amy Col. Thomas Fosnacht, a liaison officer
in Germany. Fosnacht, in turn, contacted officials at A&M.
"We are simply overjoyed and so grateful to this German soldier. We can't wait to meet the gentleman," Kershaw said.
"We are so grateful to A&M for all of their efforts on our behalf to make this happen."
After less than a month of correspondence between A&M officials and the German officer, the ring made it home to Texas
in time for Veterans' Day.
"It's heartwarming that [the officer] cared enough to bring it back," said one of Leonard's classmates, Jack Westbrook, inTulsa, Okla.
I can't be there Saturday, but it's just rewarding to see the ring coming back to its rightful owner."*
Contributed by Patricia A. Smith, TVC StaffTVC JOURNAL - January/February 2001, Vol. 24, No. 1
Page 2
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Texas Veterans Commission. Texas Veterans Commission Journal, Volume 24, Issue 1, January/February 2001, periodical, Winter 2001; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth838655/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.