KRAVITZ, LEONARD M
Rank/Organization: Private First Class, Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment 24th Infantry Division
Place and date:
Yangpyon, Korea, 7 March 1951
Born
August 8, 1931 Brooklyn, New York
Medal of Honor Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of
Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by
act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor
(posthumously) to:
LEONARD M. KRAVITZ, United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty:
Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz distinguished himself by acts
of gallantry and intrepidity above and
beyond the call of duty while serving as an assistant machine gunner
with Company M, 5th Infantry
Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during combat operations against an
armed enemy in Yangpyong,
Korea on March 6 and 7, 1951. After friendly elements had repulsed
two probing attacks, the enemy
launched a fanatical banzai charge with heavy supporting fire and,
despite staggering losses, pressed the
assault with ruthless determination. When the machinegunner was
wounded in the initial phase of the
action, Private First Class Kravitz immediately seized the weapon
and poured devastating fire into the
ranks of the onrushing assailants. The enemy effected and exploited
a breach on the left flank, rendering
the friendly positions untenable. Upon order to withdraw, Private
First Class Kravitz voluntarily
remained to provide protective fire for the retiring elements.
Detecting enemy troops moving toward
friendly positions, Private First Class Kravitz swept the hostile
soldiers with deadly, accurate fire, killing
the entire group. His destructive retaliation caused the enemy to
concentrate vicious fire on his position
and enabled the friendly elements to withdraw. Later, after friendly
troops had returned, Private First
Class Kravitz was found dead behind the gun he had so heroically
manned, surrounded by numerous
enemy dead. Private First Class Kravitz’s extraordinary heroism and
selflessness at the cost of his own
life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the
highest traditions of military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States
Army.
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_M._Kravitz