A monument will be unveiled on Monday, May 30, 2011, 12:00 Noon on the Courthouse Square in Eutaw, AL memorializing Platoon Sgt. Matthew Leonard.  Matthew Leonard was killed during combat in the Vietnam War on February 28, 1967.  For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the Pentagon on December 19, 1968.

The Citation with the medal states: 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 machinegun into a location where it could sweep the entire perimeter. This threat was magnified when the platoon machinegun 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 machinegun.

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.

P/Sgt. Matthew Leonard was born in Eutaw, Alabama (Greene County) on November 26, 1929. There are 21 Medal of Honor recipients (of which two are African American) in the state of Alabama.  There are approx. 3,000 Medal of Honor recipients in the United States.

To date, P/Sgt. Matthew Leonard has never been honored by his hometown. However, recently, a committee of organizations was formed in Greene County for this purpose: The Eutaw Area Chamber of Commerce, The  Greene County Veteran Affair’s Office, the Greene County Commission and Greenetrack, Inc.

On May 3, 2011, Governor Robert Bentley signed a Proclamation naming “a portion of U. S. Highway 11 in Greene County from the county line at Knoxville to the Sumter County line” in honor of Matthew Leonard.  The portion stated is now officially known  as the Matthew Leonard Highway.

Additionally, the University of Alabama is working with the committee on scheduling a fly over during the opening ceremony of a home football game in Leonard’s honor.

The guest speaker for this occasion is Lt./Col. Beverly Price Jones.