Leo T. Hury was born on March 19, 1920 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA as Leo Thomas Hury. He was born to the late Leo Bernard and Kate Hury. He was raised in Jacksonville during the Great Depression. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, where he played football and was voted most popular, by his senior class. In 1941 he was still at the University of Florida. He had already enjoyed two years Reserved Officers Training Corps and was now accepted into advanced ROTC. During his senior year he held the rank of 1st. Lieutenant. On Sunday December 7, 1941 he was hitchiking back to Gainesville when he heard the news of the Pearl Harbor attack. Almost 18 months later he graduated and afterwards he had to report to Camp Blanding were he was inducted August 2, 1943. On August 7, 1943 he was promoted to Corporal in order to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After receiving his gold 2nd Lieutenant bars he was to report to the 86th Infantry Division. When the 86th was chosen to train for fighting in the Pacific he was chosen to be a replacement for officers killed or wounded in Europe and on May 12, 1944 he shipped out of New York. During the Normandy campaign he acted as a platoon leader for L Company and was lightly wounded by some shrapnel from a German "potato-masher". After this first campaign he was, much to his relief, transferred to the Mortar Section of Heavy Weapons Company.
While on occupational duty he was promoted to Captain and he was to govern the area his company occupied. The always returning small disputes and other small problems learned he never wanted to be involved in politics when back home! Despite that he enjoyed his time as commanding officer of M-Company, 330th Infantry Regiment. He easily got the 85 points needed to get back home and arrived in the US on January 4, 1946. A small navy band greeted him and he was offered steak and ice cream. Less than 48 hours later he was discharged and on a train home.
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