Okla-homey
5/15/2007, 06:31 AM
On the 25th anniversary of my commissioning in the United States Air Force, I decided to share this story of an ordinary USAF airman who performed above and beyond the call of duty...
May 15, 1970: Air Force sergeant awarded Medal of Honor
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/16753/2001361473168348563_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001361473168348563)
The AC-47 in action in the skies of Vietnam amid illumination provided by deployed Mk-42 magnesium illumination flares
Thirty-seven years ago today, at the White House, President Richard Nixon presents Sgt. John L. Levitow with the Medal of Honor for heroic action performed on February 24, 1969, over Long Binh Army Post in South Vietnam.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/16327/2001311290766420558_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001311290766420558)
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/17394/2001327787668417098_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001327787668417098)
A1C John L. Levitow
Then an Airman 1st Class, Levitow was a 24 year-old crewmember on a Douglas AC-47 gunship. His aircraft had been supporting several Army units that were engaged with Victor Charlie when mortar round struck the aircraft's right wing, exploding in the wing frame.
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/16065/2001378163934738636_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001378163934738636)
The AC-47 was a converted WWII-era C-47 "Skytrain" armed with three 7.62 mm (0.30 in) General Electric GAU-2/M134 miniguns, 2,000 rounds per gun and 48 Mk 24 flares. At night, when Charlie was his most active, the aircraft would set up in an orbit around the target area, typically at about eight thousand feet, pop a flare to illuminate the ground, then hose the ground target with thousands of 7.62 rounds fired from the electrically powered Gatling guns. It was a very effective system against enemy ground troops.
Thousands of pieces of shrapnel ripped through the plane's aluminum fuselage, wounding four of the crew. Levitow was struck forty times in his right side; although bleeding heavily from these wounds, and with his injured hands useless, he threw himself on an activated a Mk 24 magnesium illumination flare, dragged himself and the flare to the open cargo door, and tossed the flare out of the aircraft before it ignited and destroyed the aircraft killing all aboard. Seconds after Levitow got it out of the aircraft, the flare ignited.
http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/15917/2001398212072094496_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001398212072094496)
From the USAF Art Collection
For saving his fellow crewmembers and the gunship, Airman Levitow was nominated for the nation's highest award for valor in combat. He was one of only two enlisted airmen to win the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam and was one of only five enlisted airmen ever to win the medal, the first since World War II.
On November 8, 2000, John L. Levitow died at age 55 at his home in Connecticut after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Vietnam-era Air Force sergeant was buried with military honors November 17, 2000 at Arlington National Cemetery.
http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/14372/2001307544231590924_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001307544231590924)
"This was a sad day for our Air Force," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim Finch. "John Levitow for years has been woven into the fabric of enlisted heritage. Through his heroic efforts, he was the embodiment of our core value 'service before self.' His name has become synonymous with excellence, and his legacy will continue to live in the hearts and minds of all Air Force members today and well into the future."
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/16392/2001366984289345191_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001366984289345191)
OFFICIAL CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant John L. Levitow (then Airman First Class), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism on 24 February, 1969, while assigned as a loadmaster aboard a AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission. On that date, Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were 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 forty 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 open 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. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood. Unable to grasp the 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 selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's conspicuous gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen and his intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/16142/2001396652340135833_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001396652340135833)
May 15, 1970: Air Force sergeant awarded Medal of Honor
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/16753/2001361473168348563_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001361473168348563)
The AC-47 in action in the skies of Vietnam amid illumination provided by deployed Mk-42 magnesium illumination flares
Thirty-seven years ago today, at the White House, President Richard Nixon presents Sgt. John L. Levitow with the Medal of Honor for heroic action performed on February 24, 1969, over Long Binh Army Post in South Vietnam.
http://aycu08.webshots.com/image/16327/2001311290766420558_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001311290766420558)
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/17394/2001327787668417098_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001327787668417098)
A1C John L. Levitow
Then an Airman 1st Class, Levitow was a 24 year-old crewmember on a Douglas AC-47 gunship. His aircraft had been supporting several Army units that were engaged with Victor Charlie when mortar round struck the aircraft's right wing, exploding in the wing frame.
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/16065/2001378163934738636_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001378163934738636)
The AC-47 was a converted WWII-era C-47 "Skytrain" armed with three 7.62 mm (0.30 in) General Electric GAU-2/M134 miniguns, 2,000 rounds per gun and 48 Mk 24 flares. At night, when Charlie was his most active, the aircraft would set up in an orbit around the target area, typically at about eight thousand feet, pop a flare to illuminate the ground, then hose the ground target with thousands of 7.62 rounds fired from the electrically powered Gatling guns. It was a very effective system against enemy ground troops.
Thousands of pieces of shrapnel ripped through the plane's aluminum fuselage, wounding four of the crew. Levitow was struck forty times in his right side; although bleeding heavily from these wounds, and with his injured hands useless, he threw himself on an activated a Mk 24 magnesium illumination flare, dragged himself and the flare to the open cargo door, and tossed the flare out of the aircraft before it ignited and destroyed the aircraft killing all aboard. Seconds after Levitow got it out of the aircraft, the flare ignited.
http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/15917/2001398212072094496_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001398212072094496)
From the USAF Art Collection
For saving his fellow crewmembers and the gunship, Airman Levitow was nominated for the nation's highest award for valor in combat. He was one of only two enlisted airmen to win the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam and was one of only five enlisted airmen ever to win the medal, the first since World War II.
On November 8, 2000, John L. Levitow died at age 55 at his home in Connecticut after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Vietnam-era Air Force sergeant was buried with military honors November 17, 2000 at Arlington National Cemetery.
http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/14372/2001307544231590924_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001307544231590924)
"This was a sad day for our Air Force," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim Finch. "John Levitow for years has been woven into the fabric of enlisted heritage. Through his heroic efforts, he was the embodiment of our core value 'service before self.' His name has become synonymous with excellence, and his legacy will continue to live in the hearts and minds of all Air Force members today and well into the future."
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/16392/2001366984289345191_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001366984289345191)
OFFICIAL CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant John L. Levitow (then Airman First Class), U.S. Air Force, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism on 24 February, 1969, while assigned as a loadmaster aboard a AC-47 aircraft flying a night mission. On that date, Sgt. Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole through the wing and fragments made over 3,500 holes in the fuselage. All occupants of the cargo compartment were 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 forty 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 open 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. Sgt. Levitow struggled forward despite the loss of blood. Unable to grasp the 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 selfless and heroic actions, saved the aircraft and its entire crew from certain death and destruction. Sgt. Levitow's conspicuous gallantry, his profound concern for his fellowmen and his intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/16142/2001396652340135833_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001396652340135833)