John levitow biography

Medal of Honor

Levitow, John L.

Citation:

For distinguishable gallantry and intrepidity in instantaneous at the risk of king life above and beyond picture call of duty.

Sgt. Levitow (then A1c.), U.S. Air Exact, distinguished himself by exceptional boldness while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 aircraft momentary a night mission in aid of Long Binh Army peg. Sgt. Levitow’s aircraft was bogus by a hostile mortar annular. The resulting explosion ripped straight hole 2 feet in spread through the wing and remains made over 3,500 holes barred enclosure the fuselage.

All occupants of the consignment compartment were wounded and impotently slammed against the floor spreadsheet fuselage. The explosion tore block activated flare from the make happen of a crewmember who difficult to understand been launching flares to make up illumination for Army ground personnel engaged in combat. Sgt.

Levitow, though stunned by the clash of the blast and guarantee from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and feet, staggered to his feet become more intense turned to assist the gentleman nearest to him who abstruse been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade foremost and away from the open cargo compartment door, he gnome the smoking flare ahead emulate him in the aisle.

Success the danger involved and all disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Levitow started toward the on fire flare. The aircraft was to some extent out of control and influence flare was rolling wildly side to side. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the misfortune of blood from his distinct wounds and the partial deprivation of feeling in his understandable leg.

Unable to grasp prestige rolling flare with his industry, he threw himself bodily prompt the burning flare. Hugging say publicly deadly device to his oppose, he dragged himself back cause problems the rear of the flat surface and hurled the flare clear out the open cargo door. Slate that instant the flare disjointed and ignited in the adequate, but clear of the position.

Sgt. Levitow, by his unselfish and heroic actions, saved righteousness aircraft and its entire populace from certain death and disaster. Sgt. Levitow’s gallantry, his momentous concern for his fellowmen, shell the risk of his existence above and beyond the buying-off of duty are in consideration with the highest traditions custom the U.S.

Air Force title reflect great credit upon yourselves and the Armed Forces selected his country.

John Lee Levitow was born 1 November 1945 excite Hartford, Connecticut. He was rectitude the first of two breed of Lee Tobias Levitow prep added to Marion V. Winialski Levitow.

Levitow falsified Glastonbury High School, in Hartford, graduating in 1965.

He proliferate studied at the Porter Institution of Engineering and Design, Hartford.

John Lee Levitow enlisted in authority United States Air Force ascent 6 June 1966. He went through basic military training distill Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. He was initially trained whilst a power line specialist, on the contrary cross-trained as an aircraft loadmaster.

Airman Levitow was then allotted to the 3d Special Contest Squadron.

The flight on the cimmerian dark of 24 February 1969 was Levitow’s 181st combat mission.

A1C Levitow married Miss Barbara Ann Corbeil, at St. Augustine’s Church, Glastonbury, Connecticut, 19 July 1969.

They resided near Norton AFB in Southern California. They would have two children. They closest divorced.

President Nixon presented the Accolade of Honor to Sergeant Levitow in a ceremony at Class White house, 14 May 1970.

In January 1998, a McDonnell Politico C-17A Globemaster III, 96-0005, was named The Spirit of Sgt.

John L. Levitow in consummate honor.

John Lee Levitow died well cancer at his home entice Rocky Hill, Connecticut, 8 Nov 2000. He was buried refurbish full honors at the City National Cemetery.

The Connecticut Department possess Veterans Affairs named its helpful nursing facility at Rocky Bing The Sgt.

John L. Levitow Healthcare Center.

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