Leó Major

Léo Major DCM & Bar (January 23, 1921 – October 12, 2008) was a Canadian soldier who was the only Canadian and one of only three soldiers in the British Commonwealth to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) twice in separate wars.

Major earned his first DCM in World War II in 1945 after a successful reconnaissance mission in Zwolle. As he was sent to scout the city with one of his best friends, a firefight broke out in which his friend was killed. Major continued on to find that the city was mostly deserted by the German occupational army. Thanks to his efforts, Zwolle was spared from the artillery fire that was planned the next day by the Allies. He received his second DCM during the Korean War for leading the capture of a key hill in 1951. Today, he is sometimes called by the nickname, "the Québécois Rambo".

Life

Born on January 23, 1921, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to French-Canadian parents, Major moved with his family to Montreal before his first birthday. Due to a poor relationship with his father, he moved to live with an aunt at age 14. This relationship, combined with a lack of available work, led Major to join the Canadian army in 1940 to prove to his father that he was "somebody to be proud of".

Rank Sergeant
Unit Régiment de la Chaudière
Royal 22nd Regiment

Battles/wars

World War II

• Invasion of Normandy
• Battle of the Scheldt
• Battle of Zwolle

Korean War

• First Battle of Maryang San

Leó Major, known as the real-life Rambo, served in the Canadian Army during World War II. He demonstrated tremendous bravery throughout the war, capturing a German Armored Vehicle with secret codes and single-handedly apprehending 93 German soldiers in the Netherlands. Despite losing an eye to a phosphorus grenade and being injured by a landmine, Major recovered and returned to duty.

One incident in the Dutch town of Zwolle showcased Major's extraordinary heroism. While on a scouting mission with his friend Willy Arsenault, their position was compromised, leading to Arsenault's death. In response, Major fought back, killing two enemy troops and seizing Arsenault's weapons. Fueled by anger, Major embarked on a one-person rampage, entering Zwolle alone to free the town from German troops.

Major drove a hijacked German vehicle into town and engaged the enemy, creating the impression of a much larger attacking force. He captured around 100 enemy troops, set fire to the Gestapo HQ, and forced the Germans to retreat. The Dutch resistance took control of the town hall, and the next day, the allies entered Zwolle without encountering resistance. Major's actions saved civilian lives. After the war, Major served in the Korean War before retiring to Canada. He lived a quiet life until his death in 2008, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable bravery and selflessness.