Today in USAF enlisted history

  • Published
  • By Linda Welz
  • 452 AMW public affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  It was forty three years ago today that Airman First Class John L. Levitow filled in for the regular gunship loadmaster aboard the AC-47 mission, "Spooky 71", over Vietnam. Levitow displayed exceptional heroism Feb. 24, 1969, resulting in him being the most junior ranking Airman ever to earn the Medal of Honor.

After the gunship was hit by North Vietnamese mortar shells, Levitow, who had 40 shrapnel wounds in his legs, side and back, fought a 30-degree bank, crawled to and threw his body on a burning, magnesium flare that was loose inside the cargo bay, dangerously close to canisters that contained 19,000 rounds of live ammunition. He managed to drag himself and the flare to the open cargo door where he threw the flare out just before it exploded, saving the crew and the aircraft.

After nearly two-and-a-half months in a hospital, Levitow was sent back to Vietnam for an additional tour of duty, and flew 20 more combat missions. He was returned to the United States to receive the Medal of Honor from President Nixon in ceremonies at the White House on Armed Forces Day, May 14, 1970.

Levitow was promoted to sergeant prior to his discharge from the Air Force four years later.

He worked for the state of Connecticut designing veterans program until his death on Nov. 8, 2000, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was buried Nov. 17 at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors.

Air Mobility Command and the Boeing Company honored Levitow with the naming of a C-17 Globemaster II as "The Spirit of John Levitow."

In his memory, the coveted Levitow Honor Graduate Award is present to the top professional military education graduate from Air Force Airman Leadership Schools. The 737th Training Group headquarters building at Lackland AFB, Texas, has also been named in his honor.

Information source: af.mil