John L. Levitow
U.S. Air Force
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty. Airman First Class John J. Levitow 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. Airman First Class Levitow's aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole two 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. Airman First Class 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 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, Airman First Class Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Airman First Class 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 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. Airman First Class Levitow, by his selfless and heroic action, saved the aircraft and the entire crew from certain death and destruction. Airman First Class Levitow gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow men, and 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.While assigned to Company I (Ranger), 75th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, in Phouc Thanh Province, Specialist Four Law distinguished himself while serving with Company I. While on a long-range reconnaissance patrol in Tinh Phouc Thanh Province, Specialist Four Law and five comrades made contact with a small enemy patrol. As the opposing elements exchanged intense fire, he maneuvered to a perilously exposed position flanking his comrades and began placing suppressive fire on the hostile troops. Although his team was hindered by a low supply of ammunition and suffered from an unidentified irritating gas in the air, Specialist Four Law"s spirited defense and challenging counterassault rallied his fellow soldiers against the well-equipped hostile troops. When an enemy grenade landed in his team"s position, Specialist Four Law, instead of diving into the safety of a stream behind him, threw himself on the grenade to save the lives of his comrades. Specialist Four Law"s extraordinary courage and profound concern for his fellow soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the U.S. Army.' WHERE `ID` = 481; UPDATE `specialopsmemorial`.`tblwall` SET `Description` = 'For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty. Airman First Class Levitow 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. Airman First Class Levitow"s aircraft was struck by a hostile mortar round. The resulting explosion ripped a hole two 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. Airman First Class 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 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, Airman First Class Levitow started toward the burning flare. The aircraft was partially out of control and the flare was rolling wildly from side to side. Airman First Class 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 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. Airman First Class Levitow, by his selfless and heroic action, saved the aircraft and the entire crew from certain death and destruction. Airman First Class Levitow gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow men, and 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.
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