Levitow, John Lee, Sgt

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
67 kb
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Final Rank
Sergeant
Last AFSC
60750A-Aircraft Loadmaster
Last AFSC Group
Air Operations
Primary Unit
1968-1969, 1A2X1, 3rd Special Operations Squadron
Service Years
1966 - 1970
Sergeant

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

74 kb


Home State
Connecticut
Connecticut
Year of Birth
1945
 
The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr..

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE

This Remembrance Profile was originally created by SMSgt James E. Franklin - Deceased
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Hartford
Last Address
Hartford
Date of Passing
Nov 08, 2000
 
Location of Interment
Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Section 66, Site 7107

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 




 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Arlington National Cemetery (VLM)Medal of Honor Recipients
  2000, National Cemetery Administration (NCA), Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) (Arlington, Virginia)
  2016, Medal of Honor Recipients - Assoc. Page


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

Name: John Lee Levitow
Service Info.: SGT US AIR FORCE VIETNAM
Birth Date: 1 Nov 1945
Death Date: 8 Nov 2000
Service Start Date: 4 Jun 1966
Interment Date: 17 Nov 2000
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: C/O Director Arlington, VA 22211
Buried At: Section 66 Site 7107

   
Other Comments:

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to

LEVITOW, JOHN L.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, 3d Special Operations Squadron. Place and date: Long Binh Army post, Republic of Vietnam, 24 February 1969. New Haven, Conn. Born: 1 November 1945, Hartford, Conn.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Levitow (then A1c.), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while assigned as a loadmaster aboard an AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post. Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole 2 feet in diameter through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were wounded and helplessly slammed against the floor and fuselage. The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army ground troops engaged in combat. Sgt. Levitow, though stunned by the concussion of the blast and suffering from over 40 fragment wounds in the back and legs, staggered to his feet and turned to assist the man nearest to him who had been knocked down and was bleeding heavily. As he was moving his wounded comrade forward and away from the opened cargo compartment door, he saw the smoking flare ahead of him in the aisle. Realizing the danger involved and completely disregarding his own wounds, Sgt. Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood from his many wounds and the partial loss of feeling in his right leg. Unable to grasp the rolling flare with his hands, he threw himself bodily upon the burning flare. Hugging the deadly device to his body, he dragged himself back to the rear of the aircraft and hurled the flare through the open cargo door. At that instant the flare separated and ignited in the air, but clear of the aircraft. Sgt. Levitow, by his selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

   
 Photo Album   (More...


  1966, Basic Military Training (Lackland AFB, TX)
School
Basic Military Training (Lackland AFB, TX)

Squadron
Not Specified

Flight
Not Specified

Start Date 
Aug, 1966
 

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Last Updated:Aug 12, 2016
   
   
Yearbook
 
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  405 Also There at This Training:
Name Sqdn Flt Start Date
Asdourian, Jon, MSgt, (1966-1988) 3723 1795 Aug, 1966
Ballweg, James, SSgt, (1966-1973) Aug, 1966
Barton, Ronald, MSgt, (1966-2005) 3704 Aug, 1966
Bays, Carol, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3743 30 Aug, 1966
Berland, Edward, Sgt, (1966-1970) Aug, 1966
Blewett, Tim, Maj, (1966-1988) 3702 Aug, 1966
Bly, Jamie, MSgt, (1966-1986) 3702 Aug, 1966
Borosky, Chester, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3710 1948 Aug, 1966
Borosky, Chester, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3710 1948 Aug, 1966
Bosley, Dennis, MSgt, (1966-1988) 3723 Aug, 1966
Brakken, Jim, Sgt, (1966-1970) 1798 Aug, 1966
Burden, Larry, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3703 1910 Aug, 1966
Burghy, David, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3725 1873 Aug, 1966
Carras, Greg, Sgt, (1966-1970) 1772 Aug, 1966
Cestnik, Mary, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3743 Aug, 1966
Cestnik, Mary, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3743 34 Aug, 1966
Ciot, George, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3703 1808 Aug, 1966
Coffee, Tom, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3724 1876 Aug, 1966
Corell, Michael, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3706 Aug, 1966
Craig, Ron, Sgt, (1966-1970) Aug, 1966
Cummings, Jim, SSgt, (1966-1970) Aug, 1966
Davis, Lawrence, Sgt, (1966-1970) 3702 Aug, 1966
Dayton, John, Sgt, (1966-1972) 3703 2255 Aug, 1966
DeCampli, Randolph, Sgt, (1966-1970) Aug, 1966
DeCillo, John, Sgt, (1966-1969) Aug, 1966
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