American Military Government in Germany.

American Military Government in Germany. Major John W, Leonard of Toledo, Ohip, is Commanding General of the Ninth Armored Division, occupting force in the Bayreuth area. While the military forces are in command of U.S. -occupied territories, Militairy Government detachments control civilian activities. General Leonard is famous for his decision to deize and hold the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, where his forces established a Rhine bridgehead March 7, 1945. He has been in command of the Ninth Armored Division since shortly after its activation July 15, 1942, in Kansas. In the last war, he received the DSC, Purple Heart, Croix de Guerre with Palm and French Legion of Honor. In this war, he won the Silver and Bronze Star Medals and the Distinguished ServiceMedal. The first was for the Remagen bridge compaign, the second for his ägrssive leadership and sound judgement"and the DSM for his "superior ability as a general". The Ninth Armored Division spearheaded the First U.S Army's drive through Central Germany and set the stage for the linkup with the Russians. It also played an imposing part in routing the Nazi from the Ardennes bulge and in the fighting at Bastongne.