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PersonalitiesFrom the leaders to the followers; this is about the people who made history.
MONTREAL - Family and friends of Leo Major describe him as a humble man who wore his battle scars with grace.
The residents of the Dutch city of Zwolle remember him as a hero.
Major is the only Canadian to have received two Distinguished Conduct Medals - the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross - for accomplishments in the Second World and Korean Wars.
He died in Montreal on Oct. 12 at age 87.
In 1940, at 19, the French-Canadian from one of Montreal's toughest working-class east end neighbourhoods joined Montreal's Regiment de la Chaudiere.
He distinguished himself early in his army career.
After losing an eye to a grenade on D-Day on the beach in Normandy, he refused a medical evacuation. He claimed he could still sight a rifle with one eye.
"He always said doctors were a bunch of fools," his son Denis said in an interview.
But it was his bravery on a cold, rainy April night in 1945 that won him his first medal and the lasting respect of the people of Zwolle.
On that night, Major single-handedly liberated the city.
It was April 13, 1945 when Pte. Major and another French-Canadian soldier, Willie Arsenault, were sent to scope out the German presence in the Dutch town, about 120 kilometres northeast of Amsterdam.
Arsenault was killed by German machine-gunners on the outskirts of the city.
But Major, using a combination of luck, cunning, and guts, was able to capture Zwolle from the Germans by killing them when he could and setting off enough grenades to create the impression a large Canadian force had entered the city.
By early morning, they had fled the town.
Since he died, the town hall flag has been flying at half-mast, a register has been opened so townspeople can record their condolences, and Lt.-Col. Henri J.L. Schevers from the Dutch embassy attended his Montreal funeral on Saturday.
Betty Redemeyer's stepfather, Hendrik van Gerner, met Major that night. It began a lifetime of friendship as Major, in his later years, frequently travelled back to Holland to speak to schoolchildren about his experiences.
"Because of Leo, (the Allies) knew they didn't need to bomb the city, the Germans were gone," she said.
Redemeyer recalled Major's visits back to Zwolle with fondness.
"He could have been my grandfather," she said.
"He was so sweet. I honoured him so much, just because he was so humble. We realized what he had done for our city was enormous."
Memories of the war haunted Major.
"At night he became quiet," Redemeyer said.
"In his memories he went back to the war. Sometimes I think it was difficult for him."
Major's son Denis said he rarely spoke of his exploits. In fact, he only told his family in the late 1960s about some of what he'd accomplished.
"Even my mother didn't know," Denis said.
"One of the most difficult memories came at the end of the war. He had killed two Germans, and when he approached the bodies he found they were adolescents of 13, 14 years old."
Major still answered the call of duty when in 1950, a Canadian general asked him to serve as a sniper in the Korean War. He left his civilian plumbing practice and went overseas once again, even with lingering injuries from his first tour of duty.
A severe back injury sustained during the Second World War would cause him pain his whole life.
It was in the Korean War that he won his second medal for bravery after leading a company to capture a key hill.
His family lost what Denis called "man of great courage, justice, a very humble man."
So did the people of Zwolle.
"I know that everyone, but everyone, will think of Leo as their liberator," Redemeyer said.
"He will never be forgotten. To us, he really is a hero."
Major is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pauline De Croiselle, his four children and five grand children.
Thus, as the R22eR were just settling into their new positions on November 22, the 64th Chinese Army opened up with a massive artillery barrage, engulfing Hill 355 along with the Vingt Deux. On November 23, enemy attacks intensified, with elements of the Chinese 190th and 191st Divisions directed against Hill 355, and one battalion of the 190th attacking D Company. For the next two days, desperate fighting occurred as the Americans first lost Hill 355, then fought to regain it after hastily gathering a counter-attack force.
As soon as they had captured Hill 355 on November 23, the Chinese were able to occupy Hill 227, uncovering both flanks of Company D. This left the Company practically surrounded, but it managed to drive off all enemy attacks. The mid-day hours of November 24 brought a lull to the fighting but, late in the day, the Chinese launched a new attack with two companies from Hill 227 against D Company and by 1820 hours had overrun the left flank platoon, No. 11. When, in addition, the Chinese again recaptured the slopes of Hill 355, the remainder of D Company came under attack from all directions.
The situation was serious. However, Dextraze coolly assessed the regiment's position and refused to consider giving up any ground. While the Americans assembled a counter-attack force on his right, Dextraze decided to launch his own counter-attack to regain No. 11 Platoon's position and thus relieve the pressure on D Company.
His best reserve was the tough, aggressive scout platoon. He used it to assemble an assault group under the command of Léo Major, including a signalman to maintain a link directly to himself. Major equipped a large portion of his men with Sten guns and, wearing running shoes to mask the sound of their movement, they set out at midnight over the snow-swept hills. Proceeding slowly, in small groups, they followed an indirect route in order to come onto the objective from the direction of the enemy's own lines. Once near the summit, at a signal from Major, they opened fire together. The enemy panicked and by 0045 Major's force had successfully occupied its objective.
However, about an hour later, the Chinese launched their own counter-attack and Dextraze ordered Major to withdraw from the hill. Major refused, saying he would pull back only 25 yards to some shell holes which offered the only cover he could find. From here, he directed mortar and machine-gun fire onto his attackers. This he did throughout the darkest hours and bitter cold of the morning, bringing the mortar fire down almost on top of himself.
The commander of the mortar platoon, Captain Charly Forbes, later wrote that Major was "an audacious man ... not satisfied with the proximity of my barrage and asks to bring it closer...In effect my barrage falls so close that I hear my bombs explode when he speaks to me on the radio."[v] Forbes increased his rate of fire until the mortar barrels turned red from the heat. He finally had to cease fire as the heat had permanently warped the tubes.
As the citation described, so expertly did he direct the fire of supporting mortars and artillery that the platoon was able to repulse four separate enemy attacks. Running from one point of danger to another, under heavy small arms fire from his flank, he directed the fire of his men, encouraging them to hold firm against overwhelming odds. By dawn, Major's force had withdrawn 200 yards to the east, reporting that "nothing is left there to occupy...not a bunker or slit trench."[vi] However, despite being attacked by superior numbers, Major's group had repulsed all attacks and succeeded in denying possession of No. 11 Platoon's position to the Chinese. Léo Major's small force remained in position for three more days, holding their gains securely, as the Chinese made several last attempts to gain some ground.
Major's citation for the Bar to the DCM concluded: Against a force, superior in number, Corporal Major simply refused to give ground. His personal courage and leadership were beyond praise. Filling an appointment far above his rank, he received the full confidence of his men, so inspired were they by his personal bravery, his coolness and leadership. For this action, Corporal Léo Major was awarded the Bar to the Distinguished Service Medal.
No further major attacks were experienced in the sector and Major's counter-attack ended what Charly Forbes called "the epic of Hill 355." The Chinese had failed in gaining their objective and, on 27 November, agreement was reached for a tentative demarcation line to be established on the present positions.
The Major Dextraxe mentioned ask Leo Major to join the Vandoos for Korea. General Jacques Alfred Dextraze, CC, CMM, CBE, DSO, CD would later become Chief of the Defense Staff. The only person in Canadian history to start as private and become CDS.
__________________ FoxNEWS "The World is unfair and we are running scared"
The Major Dextraxe mentioned ask Leo Major to join the Vandoos for Korea. General Jacques Alfred Dextraze, CC, CMM, CBE, DSO, CD would later become Chief of the Defense Staff. The only person in Canadian history to start as private and become CDS.
There is no doubt about it there is some fantastic people pass in some way or another through our lives and the majority of us know nothing about them until it is too late and they are gone!!
There is no doubt about it there is some fantastic people pass in some way or another through our lives and the majority of us know nothing about them until it is too late and they are gone!!
I met a bloke on Saturday who'd put it to the test 92 times over Nazi Germany, in the rear turret of both Wimpeys and Halibags. Crashed landed twice, due to flak and fighter damage, the second time he was the only survivor.
I met a bloke on Saturday who'd put it to the test 92 times over Nazi Germany, in the rear turret of both Wimpeys and Halibags. Crashed landed twice, due to flak and fighter damage, the second time he was the only survivor.
LEST WE FORGET
Yes and I bet he never even got an official mention except for the usual sevice medals!! 92 times, and survived those blokes were BLOODY marvelous at least he must have had 'The Bloke upstairs' on his side!
I met a bloke on Saturday who'd put it to the test 92 times over Nazi Germany, in the rear turret of both Wimpeys and Halibags. Crashed landed twice, due to flak and fighter damage, the second time he was the only survivor.
LEST WE FORGET
I salute him
But I must take exception to your signature
"They used to say women and children first."
"Did they? But they can't fly Spitfires, can they?"
__________________ FoxNEWS "The World is unfair and we are running scared"
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