JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Family members of Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Air Force Sgt. John Levitow visited Joint Base MDL for a look into their relative’s life, legacy and military service, Aug. 23-24.
John Levitow Jr. and his cousin, Tara Bufis with her husband James, joined Airmen for a tour of the McGuire-side mission and attended an Airman Leadership School graduation ceremony after Tara discovered her uncle’s story of valor in Vietnam stretched far beyond her family’s table during a conversation with an MDL Airman.
“I don’t know why, but I asked him if he’d ever head of John Levitow,” said Tara, a Brick, New Jersey resident. “I had never asked someone that before and he looked at me and said, ‘absolutely,’ and rattled off every detail of my uncle’s career.”
Tara was blown away; completely unaware of how well-known her family was. Soon after, she and her family were once again in route to an Air Force installation.
The tour included stops at a Medal of Honor display, aircrew flight equipment, and the 87th Civil Engineering electrical pole yard, where the family was able to experience what Levitow’s job duties may have been before he cross-trained to be a loadmaster. They also met with previous Levitow Award winners, and toured ‘The Spirit of Sgt. John Levitow,’ a New York Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III named for the late veteran.
“It’s hard to put into words,” said Tara. “I had no idea that even 17 years after his passing, he would be remembered by so many people.”
Tara explained that growing up, her family was always tight-knit but her uncle’s time in combat was not a topic of discussion.
“I had read the stories and heard about the incident from my uncles, but my dad didn’t talk about what happened in Vietnam” said Levitow Jr., a Northwood, New Hampshire resident. “He only ever talked about the aftermath.”
Although his father’s military career all took place before he was born, Levitow Jr. said the Air Force was always a big part of his family’s life.
“Everyone knows my dad for what happened on February 24, 1969, but those ten minutes are not what defines my dad,” said Levitow Jr. “What defines him is how he supported the enlisted troops after his service.”
Levitow Jr. remembers accompanying his father to different Air Force bases to visit with troops and attend speaking engagements, but has not been on in installation in 15 years. He hopes that by being back on a base, he can further spread the messages his father started.
“I’m not my dad, but I am a part of him,” said Levitow Jr., “He taught me so much, so maybe I can bring something of value here to the troops.”
Levitow Jr. was the guest speaker for the ALS graduation of Troop 17F, where he, Tara and James were able to watch the presentation of the John Levitow Award, the pinnacle of achievement for enlisted professional military education in the Air Force.
“It will never lose its luster,” said Levitow Jr. “It’s something he believed in and it’s something that’s earned.”
Levitow Jr. recalled former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Sam Parish bringing the idea of naming the award after Levitow to the table.
“He probably really had to talk my dad into it, because that’s just how my dad was,” said Levitow Jr. “But I think my dad embraced it because it was all about education, and he truly believed education was the key to success.”