The One-eyed Scout who Liberated a Whole Town by Himself
TLDRLeo Major, a French-Canadian soldier, distinguished himself during World War II with acts of extraordinary bravery. Despite losing an eye in combat, he refused to be discharged and continued to serve as a scout and sniper. Major's most notable feat was single-handedly liberating the Dutch town of Zwolle, causing confusion among the German forces and leading to their surrender without civilian casualties. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice, once for his actions in World War II and again during the Korean War for his leadership and valor in capturing and holding a strategic hill. After the wars, Major led a quiet life until his passing in 2008 at the age of 87.
Takeaways
- 🎖️ Leo Major was a French-Canadian soldier from Montreal who distinguished himself in World War II and the Korean War.
- 🏖️ On D-Day, Major captured a German communications vehicle full of secret code books and managed to drive it to friendly lines despite being fired upon.
- 🔍 Major lost the use of his left eye in a firefight with an SS unit but refused to be sent home, insisting that one good eye was enough to aim.
- 🇧🇦 During the Battle of the Scheldt, Major single-handedly captured 93 German soldiers, convincing them to surrender and march back to Allied lines.
- 🏆 Major was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery, though he initially declined it due to his opinion of the British commander.
- 💥 In the Rhineland, Major survived a mine explosion that killed his comrades and, despite severe injuries, returned to action.
- 🌃 Major's most famous exploit involved liberating the Dutch town of Zwolle single-handedly, causing confusion among the German forces and capturing or killing many of them.
- 🏘️ Major's actions in Zwolle prevented a planned Allied bombardment, saving civilian lives and allowing the town to be liberated without bloodshed.
- ❌ Major declined a second Distinguished Conduct Medal initially but later accepted it, making him the only Canadian to win the medal in two separate wars.
- 👨👩👧👦 After the war, Major returned to civilian life, working as a pipe fitter, and was married with four children before passing away in 2008.
- 🗺️ Major's leadership and heroism were not just limited to World War II; he also served in the Korean War, where he was pivotal in recapturing and holding a strategic hill.
Q & A
Who was Leo Major known for being during World War Two?
-Leo Major was a French-Canadian soldier from Montreal, Canada, known for his bravery and exceptional actions as a scout and sniper during World War Two.
At what age did Leo Major join the Canadian Army?
-Leo Major joined the Canadian Army at the age of 19 in 1940.
What significant action did Leo Major take during the Normandy landings?
-During the Normandy landings, Leo Major captured a German communications half track full of secret code books and drove it towards friendly lines.
How did Leo Major lose the use of his left eye?
-Leo Major lost the use of his left eye when he was hit by a phosphorus grenade thrown by a wounded enemy soldier during a firefight with a patrolling SS unit.
Why did Leo Major refuse to be sent home after being injured?
-Leo Major refused to be sent home because he felt that he only needed one good eye to aim a rifle and continue serving in the war.
How many German soldiers did Leo Major single-handedly capture during the Battle of the Scheldt?
-During the Battle of the Scheldt, Leo Major single-handedly captured 93 German soldiers.
What award was Leo Major given for his actions during the war?
-Leo Major was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which is the second-highest military decoration in the British and Commonwealth forces.
Why did Leo Major initially decline the Distinguished Conduct Medal?
-Leo Major initially declined the medal because he felt that the British commander, General Montgomery, who was to present the award, was incompetent.
What significant event occurred on April 13th, 1945, involving Leo Major?
-On April 13th, 1945, Leo Major volunteered for a reconnaissance mission in the Dutch town of Zwolle, which led to him single-handedly liberating the town from German forces.
How did Leo Major's actions in Zwolle prevent a planned bombardment?
-Leo Major's one-man assault on the German forces in Zwolle created confusion, leading the Germans to believe they were under attack by a larger Allied force, causing them to flee and thus preventing the planned bombardment.
What special recognition did Leo Major receive after the war?
-After the war, Leo Major was recognized as the only Canadian to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars.
What was Leo Major's civilian occupation before and after his military service?
-Before and after his military service, Leo Major worked as a pipe fitter.
Outlines
🏆 Leo Major: The One-Eyed Scout of World War II
Leo Major was a French-Canadian soldier from Montreal who distinguished himself during World War II. At 19, he joined the Canadian Army and first saw action during the Normandy landings on D-Day. Major was known for his bravery as a scout, capturing a German half-track filled with secret code books and leading it to friendly lines despite being fired upon. After being wounded and losing an eye, he refused to be sent home and continued his service, participating in the Battle of the Scheldt. Major's most notable act was liberating the Dutch town of Zwolle single-handedly, capturing 93 German soldiers and preventing a planned bombardment that would have cost civilian lives. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal twice, once for his World War II service and once for his service in the Korean War.
🔫 Leo Major's One-Man Rampage: Liberating Zwolle
In April 1945, Leo Major and his friend, Corporal Willi Arsenault, volunteered for a reconnaissance mission to assess the German forces in the Dutch town of Zwolle. After Arsenault was killed, Major embarked on a one-man assault, using submachine guns and grenades to create the illusion of a larger Allied force. He captured and returned multiple groups of German prisoners to the Allied lines, attacked the Gestapo headquarters, and engaged in a firefight at the SS headquarters. Major's efforts led to the liberation of Zwolle without a shot being fired by the Allies or loss of civilian life. His heroism was recognized with a second Distinguished Conduct Medal.
🎖️ Leo Major's Korean War Heroics and Legacy
Leo Major's military career extended into the Korean War, where he was recruited to serve in a special scout and sniper team due to his veteran status and unique skill set. During a critical battle, Major commanded a unit that repelled numerous Chinese divisions, holding strategic high ground near Seoul. His leadership and refusal to retreat despite orders to do so earned him another Distinguished Conduct Medal, making him the only Canadian to receive this honor in two separate wars. After the war, Major returned to civilian life as a pipe fitter and lived a quiet life until his death in 2008 at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of extraordinary bravery and service.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Leo Major
💡World War II
💡Canadian Army
💡Normandy Landings
💡Scout
💡Distinguished Conduct Medal
💡Zwolle
💡Dutch Resistance
💡Korean War
💡Hill 355
💡Phosphorus Grenade
Highlights
Leo Major, a French-Canadian from Montreal, distinguished himself at D-Day by capturing a German communications half-track full of secret code books.
Major was wounded, losing the use of his left eye, but refused to be sent home, stating he only needed one good eye to aim a rifle.
During the Battle of the Scheldt, Major single-handedly captured 93 German soldiers, an act for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Major declined the Distinguished Conduct Medal, feeling the British commander Montgomery was incompetent.
In the Rhineland, Major survived a mine explosion that killed his entire crew, and returned to action with severe injuries.
Major and his friend Willi Arsenal volunteered for a reconnaissance mission to prevent the bombing of Zwolle, Netherlands.
After Willi's death, Major went on a one-man rampage, liberating the town of Zwolle and causing the German garrison to flee.
Major's actions in Zwolle prevented a planned bombardment, saving civilian lives and earning him a second Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Major was the only Canadian to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars.
During the Korean War, Major led a unit that repelled entire Chinese divisions and held strategic high ground.
Major's leadership and valor under fire at Hill 3:55 earned him another Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Major returned to civilian life after the war, working as a pipe fitter.
Major lived a quiet life after his military service, married for 57 years and had four children.
Major passed away in 2008 at the age of 87.
Major's reconnaissance and sniper skills were highly valued, leading to his recruitment for a special team during the Korean War.
Major's one-eyed status did not hinder his service; he continued to act as a scout and sniper for his unit.
Major's infiltration and capture of German forces in Zwolle was a significant contribution to the Allied victory in the region.
Major's actions in World War II and the Korean War exemplify extraordinary bravery and skill in the face of adversity.
Transcripts
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