Leo Major, a French-Canadian soldier, is known for his exceptional bravery and heroism during World War II and the Korean War. He joined the Canadian Army at 19 and quickly distinguished himself as a skilled scout and sniper. Major's notable exploits include capturing a German communications half-track, single-handedly liberating the town of Zwolle, and holding a strategic hill in Korea against overwhelming Chinese forces. For his actions, Major was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal three times, making him the only Canadian to receive this honor in two separate wars. He lived a quiet life after the wars, passing away in 2008 at the age of 87.
1. Leo Major was a French-Canadian from Montreal, Canada.
2. In 1940, at the age of 19, Leo Major joined the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal regiment of the Canadian Army.
3. Leo Major first saw action at D-Day in France, taking part in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.
4. He captured a German communications half-track full of secret code books during the Normandy landings.
5. Leo Major was sent to a field hospital for treatment after being hit by a phosphorus grenade, which damaged his left eye badly.
6. He refused to be sent home and returned to the front line, continuing to act as a scout and sniper for his unit.
7. In October 1944, Leo Major was involved in the month-long Battle of the Scheldt in Holland.
8. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his act of bravery in capturing 93 German soldiers.
9. Leo Major declined the medal, feeling that the British commander, General Montgomery, was incompetent and in no position to give him that medal.
10. In February 1945, Leo Major was severely injured when the Bren gun carrier he was traveling in hit a mine.
11. He refused to be shipped back home and returned to his unit after a short spell in a Belgian hospital.
12. On April 13, 1945, Leo Major and his friend, Corporal Willie Arseneault, volunteered to carry out a reconnaissance of the Dutch town of Zwolle.
13. During the reconnaissance, Corporal Arseneault was killed by enemy machine-gun fire.
14. Leo Major went on a one-man rampage that lasted the whole night, using his submachine gun and bags full of grenades.
15. He hijacked a nearby German Scout car, disarmed the driver, and took his MP40.
16. Leo Major attacked and sent a patrol to the Gestapo headquarters, adding to the confusion.
17. He engaged in a firefight at the SS headquarters, killing four SS officers inside.
18. Leo Major came across a group of townspeople, including a local policeman, who were secretly members of the Dutch Resistance.
19. He explained to them that the town was liberated, and the group took the town hall and brought the civilians out onto the streets.
20. By 4:30 a.m., the German garrison had fled the town, and Leo Major had single-handedly liberated Zwolle.
21. Leo Major was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroism above and beyond the call of duty, and this time he accepted it.
22. After the war, Leo Major left the army and returned to civilian life to resume his old job as a pipe fitter.
23. With the start of the Korean War in 1950, Leo Major was recruited to rejoin the army and become a member of a special scout and sniper team.
24. In November 1951, Leo Major was involved in a battle to recapture and hold Hill 355, nicknamed Little Gibraltar.
25. He commanded a unit of around 18 men, repelling whole Chinese divisions while enduring heavy artillery and mortar barrages.
26. Leo Major was awarded another Distinguished Conduct Medal for capturing and holding the key hill.
27. Leo Major is the only Canadian to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars.
28. He lived a quiet life afterwards and passed away in 2008 at the age of 87.