Platoon Sergeant “Bill” Matthew Leonard died on February 28, 1967 exactly as he had predicted. The veteran of Korea volunteered for Vietnam, because he felt that he had to teach young soldiers how to survive a war. He had told his wife he that he knew he wouldn’t make it back, but his death would be memorable.
A Memorable Death
He was right. He didn’t make it back, and his death was memorable. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for “profound courage and devotion to his men.”
“He wasn’t going to go down without being remembered. He said, ‘If I go down, I’m going to make history.'”
“He said he was volunteering to go to Vietnam. He didn’t have to go,” Lois Leonard, his widow, told an Alabama news service last Veterans Day. “I said, ‘You’re crazy. You ought not do it.’”
Sgt. Leonard responded with his concern for the young American soldiers. “He said they are killing them like flies and he could help. He said he ain’t going to get back this time,” she said. “He said, ‘I have to give my life.'”
Viet Cong Ambush
While on patrol near Suoi Da, “Bill” Matthew Leonard and his platoon from Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division came under attack from a large Viet Cong force. The platoon leaders were among the first wounded, and Sgt. Leonard led the defense and counter attack.
Sgt. Leonard left the relative safety of the ring and charged the enemy machine gun directly, killing all their crew. He was mortally wounded in the process.
Sgt. Leonard set up a defensive perimeter, distributed the ammunition, and encouraged platoon members “through forceful leadership.” He left the defensive ring to drag a wounded comrade back to safety, but in the act his left hand was shattered by a sniper shot. He refused medical treatment.
The Viet Cong attacked again, and moved a machine gun to a point overlooking the platoon’s defensive position. At the same time, the platoon’s machine gun jammed. Bill Leonard was helping the crew clear the jam when the gunner and crew were hit by the enemy machine gun. Sgt. Leonard left the relative safety of the ring and charged the enemy machine gun directly, killing all their crew. He was mortally wounded in the process.
“Bill” Matthew Leonard died propped up against a tree, continuing to kill enemy soldiers in his last moments. His sacrifice gave his platoon the spirit to continue the fight until reinforcements arrived. He did what he went there for: he saved the lives of those young men, and taught them how to survive a war, and he made it memorable. Lois said, “He wasn’t going to go down without being remembered. He said, ‘If I go down, I’m going to make history.'”
Lois and “Bill” Matthew Leonard
Bill Leonard was survived by his high school sweetheart, Lois, and five children, ages seven years to teens. She raised them by herself, and felt his absence. “I like to lost my mind, but my children were my life so I had to pray a lot.” The video clip below is from an interview with AL.com.
Lois never remarried. In her interview last November, she spoke of still-treasured memories. “The memories never left me. He wasn’t the kind of person you were glad to get rid of.”
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was suddenly attacked by a large enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Although the platoon leader and several other key leaders were among the first wounded, P/Sgt. Leonard quickly rallied his men to throw back the initial enemy assaults. During the short pause that followed, he organized a defensive perimeter, redistributed ammunition, and inspired his comrades through his forceful leadership and words of encouragement. Noticing a wounded companion outside the perimeter, he dragged the man to safety but was struck by a sniper’s bullet which shattered his left hand. Refusing medical attention and continuously exposing himself to the increasing fire as the enemy again assaulted the perimeter, P/Sgt. Leonard moved from position to position to direct the fire of his men against the well camouflaged foe. Under the cover of the main attack, the enemy moved a machine gun into a location where it could sweep the entire perimeter. This threat was magnified when the platoon machine gun in this area malfunctioned. P/Sgt. Leonard quickly crawled to the gun position and was helping to clear the malfunction when the gunner and other men in the vicinity were wounded by fire from the enemy machine gun. P/Sgt. Leonard rose to his feet, charged the enemy gun and destroyed the hostile crew despite being hit several times by enemy fire. He moved to a tree, propped himself against it, and continued to engage the enemy until he succumbed to his many wounds. His fighting spirit, heroic leadership, and valiant acts inspired the remaining members of his platoon to hold back the enemy until assistance arrived. P/Sgt. Leonard’s profound courage and devotion to his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and his gallant actions reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
