• Home
  • About us
  • MoH Books
  • MoH Videos
    • MoH Videos
    • Medal of Honor Videos
    • Medal of Honor Video Games
  • MoH Events
  • MoH Resources
    • MoH Resources
    • Medal of Honor Links
    • Educational Resources
    • Photo Tribute: The 85 living Medal of Honor recipients
  • Contact
Log In

  • Home
  • About us
  • MoH Books
  • MoH Videos
    • Medal of Honor Videos
    • Medal of Honor Video Games
  • MoH Events
  • MoH Resources
    • Medal of Honor Links
    • Educational Resources
    • Photo Tribute: The 85 living Medal of Honor recipients
  • Contact
HomeMedal of Honor RecipientsMedal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Korean War hero Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz

Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Korean War hero Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz

  • March 18, 2014
  • 0 comments
  • Medal of Honor News
  • Posted in Medal of Honor RecipientsPfc. Leonard M. Kravitz
  • 0
45
SHARES
FacebookTwitterGooglePinterest
RedditTumblr
Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz

Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz will receive the Medal of Honor
posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an assistant
machinegunner 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.

Leonard M. Kravitz was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1931.

Kravitz
is being recognized for his actions in Yangpyong, Korea, March 6-7,
1951. While occupying defensive positions, Kravitz’s unit was overrun by
enemy combatants and forced to withdraw. Kravitz voluntarily remained
at a machine-gun position to provide suppressive fire for the retreating
troops. This forced the enemy to concentrate their attack on his own
position. Kravitz ultimately did not survive the attack, but his actions
saved his entire platoon.

Citation:
 
Private Kravitz earned his Distinguished Service Cross on March 7,
1951, in an action that saved the lives of the members of his platoon.
When the platoon was attacked by a large group of fanatical Chinese and
was ordered to retreat, Kravitz took over the machine gun. When he was
ordered to retreat, he refused and he screamed back, “Get the hell out
of here while you can!” For a long time, his comrades could hear his
machine gun firing amidst the screams of the wounded and dying Chinese
forces and the grenades and mortar shells falling on his position. When
the area was finally re-taken, Private Kravitz was found laying over his
machine gun with only six bullets left. There were innumerable Chinese
dead all around, including two in his fortification with him.

Private Kravitz’s citation reads: “Private First Class Leonard M.
Kravitz, a member of Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, distinguished
himself by extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the
United Nations near Yangpyong, Korea, on 6 and 7 March 1951. Private
Kravitz, an assistant machine gunner attached to Company L, was in a
defensive position on strategic key terrain. After the friendly elements
had repulsed two earlier 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 machine gunner was wounded in the initial phase of action, Private
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 Kravitz voluntarily remained to provide
protective fire for the retiring elements. Traversing the gun to the
left to cover the infiltrating enemy and ignoring the pleadings of his
comrades to fall back, he fearlessly maintained his position. Detecting a
column of Communist troops moving toward friendly positions, he 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 effect
a withdrawal. After the strong point was rescued, Private Kravitz’s
body was found lying beside the gun he had so heroically manned and
numerous enemy dead lay in and around his emplacement. Private Kravitz’s
incredible display of valor set an inspiring example for his comrades.
His unflinching courage and consummate devotion to duty reflect the
highest credit on himself and uphold the finest traditions of the
military service.”

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Kravitz received the Distinguished
Service Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18), Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal
with one Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, Combat
Infantryman Badge, Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal, and
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Korean War her...

  • March 18, 2014
  • 0 comments

Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Korean War her...

  • March 18, 2014
  • 0 comments

About author

Medal of Honor News

Related Posts

0 comments
Medal of Honor Recipients

Alabama Medal of Honor recipient and patriots remembered fondly

Read more

0 comments
Medal of Honor Recipients

​Medal of Honor Recipient and POW Veteran Recognized For Heroism During Korean War​

Read more

0 comments
Medal of Honor Recipients

President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor, Monday, July 18, 2016

Read more

0 comments
Medal of Honor Recipients

D-Day’s Forgotten African-American Heroes

Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Do not miss

0 comments
Medal of Honor Recipients

Alabama Medal of Honor recipient and patriots remembered fondly

Read more

Medal of Honor Statistics

Total Recipients: 3,515
Living Recipients: 64
Double Recipients: 19
Most Recent: Spc. 5 Dennis Fujii, Spc. 5 Dwight Birdwell, Maj. John Duffy and Staff Sgt. Edward Kaneshiro

Total Medals of Honor Awarded: 3,534
US Army: 2,458
US Navy: 749
US Marine Corps: 300
US Air Force: 19
US Coast Guard: 1

New Books

Categories

  • 150th Anniversary (3)
  • 2011 Congressional MOH Society Convention (2)
  • Afghanistan (6)
  • Air Force (2)
  • Air Force Memorial (1)
  • Albert E. Schwab (1)
  • Alexander Bonnyman (2)
  • Allen J. Lynch (1)
  • American Spirit Award (2)
  • American Spirit Ceremony (1)
  • Andrew Goldsbery (1)
  • Anthony T. Kaho’ohanohano (1)
  • Arlington NAtional Cemetery (2)
  • Army (6)
  • Army reserves (1)
  • Arthur J Jackson (1)
  • Bernie Fisher (1)
  • Bob Kerrey (1)
  • Books (2)
  • Boston (1)
  • Boy Scouts (1)
  • Boy's Life (1)
  • Brian L. Buker (2)
  • Bruce P. Crandall (1)
  • Charles Barker (1)
  • Charles Higby (1)
  • Charles P. Murray (1)
  • Citizen Service Before Self Honors (3)
  • Civil War (1)
  • Civil War Trust (1)
  • Clifford L. Stanley (1)
  • Clinton L. Romesha (3)
  • Colby Award (1)
  • Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation (7)
  • Congressional Medal of Honor Society (7)
  • Cornelius Charlton (1)
  • Corporal Joe R. Baldonado (1)
  • Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza (1)
  • Dakota Meyer (14)
  • Dakota Meyer Nicholas Oresko (1)
  • Daniel Inouye (1)
  • David Kaho’ohanohano (1)
  • Department of Defense (4)
  • Deval Patrick (1)
  • Dickerson (1)
  • Dinniman (1)
  • Don C. Faith Jr. (1)
  • Don Jenkins (7)
  • Donald Ballard (1)
  • Donald Kirby Ross (1)
  • Donnie Howe (1)
  • Doug Sterner (1)
  • Douglas Fournet (1)
  • Douglas MacArthur (1)
  • Drew Dennis Dix (1)
  • Ed Freeman (1)
  • Education (2)
  • Edward Silk (1)
  • Edward Spalding (1)
  • Emil J. Kapaun (8)
  • Ernest C. Williams (1)
  • Ernest West (2)
  • Ernie West (2)
  • Events (3)
  • Exhibit (2)
  • First Lt. Donald K. Schwab (1)
  • Fort Myer (1)
  • Fort Sam (1)
  • Frank Dwight Baldwin (1)
  • Frank Peter Witek (1)
  • Furman Smith (1)
  • Gary Littrell (4)
  • George "Bud" Day (1)
  • Gettysburg (2)
  • Gov. Butch Otter (1)
  • Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (1)
  • Guy V. Henry Sr. (1)
  • Hall of Heroes (1)
  • Harold A. Fritz (3)
  • Harvey C. Barnum (1)
  • Henry Svehla (2)
  • Hershel Woody Williams (9)
  • Home of Heroes (2)
  • Homer L. Wise (7)
  • Images of America (1)
  • Iraq (1)
  • Iwo Jima (1)
  • Jack Jacobs (4)
  • James A. Taylor (1)
  • James E. Livingston (1)
  • James H. Monroe (1)
  • James Henry (1)
  • James J. Spurrier (1)
  • James L. Stone (1)
  • James Livingston (1)
  • Jared Monti (3)
  • Jason Dunham (1)
  • Jay R. Vargas (1)
  • Jim Livingston (1)
  • Joe Marm (1)
  • John "Bud" Hawk (1)
  • John F. Baker (1)
  • John F. Mackie (1)
  • John Kirkwood (1)
  • John W. Minick (1)
  • Jon R. Cavaiani (1)
  • Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kapaun (2)
  • Kenneth E. Stumpf (2)
  • Kentucky Derby (4)
  • Korean War (1)
  • Leo K. Thorsness (4)
  • Leo Thorsness (1)
  • Leonard Wood (1)
  • Leroy Arthur Petry (2)
  • Leroy Petry (7)
  • Leslie H. Sabo (2)
  • Lester R. Stone Jr. (2)
  • Lester Weber (1)
  • Lewis Lee Millett Sr (2)
  • Maine (1)
  • Marines (2)
  • Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron (1)
  • Master Sgt. Mike C. Pena (1)
  • Medal of Honor (3)
  • Medal of Honor Bridge (1)
  • Medal of Honor Grove (2)
  • Medal of Honor Lessons (1)
  • Medal of Honor Recipient (24)
  • Medal of Honor Recipients (283)
  • Medal of Honor Walk (1)
  • Medics (1)
  • Memorial (1)
  • Memorial Day (4)
  • Memorials (2)
  • Michael Anthony Monsoor (1)
  • Michael J. Crescenz (1)
  • Michael P. Murphy (4)
  • Mike Colalillo (1)
  • Mike Mullen (1)
  • Mike Thornton (1)
  • movie (1)
  • Movies (1)
  • Museums (1)
  • NASA (1)
  • National Armed Forces Day (1)
  • National Medal of Honor Day (15)
  • National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History (2)
  • Navy (1)
  • News (51)
  • Nicholas Oresko (1)
  • No Casino Gettysburg (2)
  • NYSE (2)
  • Obama (2)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • Operation Eduring Freedom (1)
  • Operation Red Wings (1)
  • Operation Showers of Appreciation (1)
  • Patriots Point (1)
  • Paul Bucha (5)
  • Paul J. Wiedorfer (1)
  • Pennsylvania (1)
  • Pentagon (1)
  • Peter Charles Lemon (1)
  • Pfc. Albert E. Schwab (1)
  • Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz (2)
  • Pfc. Salvador J. Lara (1)
  • Photo Tribute (1)
  • POW (1)
  • PTSD (1)
  • Pvt. Demensio Rivera (1)
  • Pvt. Joe Gandara (1)
  • Pvt. Miguel A. Vera (1)
  • Pvt. Pedro Cano (1)
  • Randy Shughart (1)
  • Restrepo (1)
  • Richard Etchberger (3)
  • Richard Pittman (2)
  • Ride 2 Recovery (1)
  • Robert Dale Maxwell (1)
  • Robert E. Livingston (1)
  • Robert Foley (1)
  • Robert J. Miller (3)
  • Robert J. Modrzejewski (1)
  • Robert M. Patterson (1)
  • Robert Miller (1)
  • Robert Modrzejewski (1)
  • Robert Patterson (1)
  • Roger Donlon (1)
  • Ronald E. Ray (1)
  • Ronald E. Rosser (2)
  • Ross A. McGinnis (1)
  • Ross McGinnis (1)
  • Sal Giunta (6)
  • Salvatore A. Giunta (1)
  • Salvatore Giunta (1)
  • Sammy Davis (5)
  • School (1)
  • Seal of Honor (1)
  • Sergeant Candelario Garcia (1)
  • Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela (1)
  • Sgt Jose Rodela (1)
  • Sgt. Alfred B. Nietzel (1)
  • Sgt. Eduardo C. Gomez (1)
  • Sgt. Jack Weinstein (1)
  • Sgt. Kyle J. White (1)
  • Sgt. William F. Leonard (1)
  • Souls of Valor (1)
  • Speak out Save Lives (2)
  • Spec. 4 Ardie R. Copas (1)
  • Spec. 4 Leonard L. Alvarado (1)
  • Special Operations (1)
  • Specialist Four Jesus S. Duran (1)
  • Specialist Four Santiago J. Erevia (1)
  • Staff Sergeant Melvin Morris (1)
  • Staff Sgt. Felix M. Conde-Falcon (1)
  • Staff Sgt. Manuel V. Mendoza (1)
  • Stamford (2)
  • Steven C. Barber (1)
  • Terrence Graves (1)
  • Thomas G. Kelley (2)
  • Thomas Norris (1)
  • time (1)
  • Tomb of the Unknowns (3)
  • Ty Michael Carter (2)
  • U.S. Olympic Committee (1)
  • United States Army (1)
  • United States Mint (1)
  • USS Michael Murphy (2)
  • USS Yorktown (1)
  • Valley Forge (1)
  • Van T. Barfoot (1)
  • Vernon Baker (1)
  • Vernon McGarity (1)
  • Veterans Day (3)
  • Veterans for Gettysburg (1)
  • Vietnam (6)
  • Vietnam War (4)
  • Visions of Valor (1)
  • Walter Ehlers (1)
  • Walter Joseph Marm (1)
  • Walter Truemper (1)
  • Warrior Games (1)
  • whitehouse (1)
  • William "Bill" Crawford (1)
  • William D Swenson (1)
  • William E. Shuck Jr. (1)
  • William Johnston (1)
  • William McWhorter (1)
  • William Prom (1)
  • William Thompson (1)
  • World War II (2)




Archives

  • November 2022 (1)
  • August 2022 (1)
  • July 2022 (2)
  • May 2022 (2)
  • April 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • October 2021 (1)
  • May 2021 (2)
  • April 2021 (1)
  • March 2021 (2)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (2)
  • April 2020 (1)
  • October 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • May 2018 (7)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (3)
  • August 2017 (3)
  • March 2017 (5)
  • February 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (2)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • August 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (5)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (2)
  • April 2016 (2)
  • March 2016 (4)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • November 2015 (2)
  • October 2015 (3)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (2)
  • July 2015 (3)
  • June 2015 (4)
  • May 2015 (3)
  • April 2015 (1)
  • March 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (1)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (3)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (3)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (2)
  • April 2014 (3)
  • March 2014 (40)
  • February 2014 (3)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (3)
  • November 2013 (2)
  • October 2013 (2)
  • August 2013 (1)
  • July 2013 (2)
  • June 2013 (1)
  • May 2013 (6)
  • April 2013 (11)
  • March 2013 (10)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (1)
  • December 2012 (2)
  • November 2012 (1)
  • October 2012 (1)
  • September 2012 (1)
  • August 2012 (4)
  • May 2012 (2)
  • March 2012 (4)
  • January 2012 (3)
  • December 2011 (4)
  • November 2011 (6)
  • October 2011 (2)
  • September 2011 (12)
  • August 2011 (3)
  • July 2011 (12)
  • June 2011 (5)
  • May 2011 (21)
  • April 2011 (13)
  • March 2011 (21)
  • February 2011 (13)
  • January 2011 (9)

Educational Resources

Exhibits

Exhibits

Entertainment

Resources
Copyright © 2017 Medal of Honor News | Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Affiliate Disclosure