Levitow fought for veterans' rights, benefits Published Feb. 14, 2014 By Annette Crawford Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs PLATTSBURGH AIR FORCE BASE, N.Y. -- Editor's note: In 1987, I was a staff sergeant assigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing public affairs division at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y. Located next to Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh was in the very northern tip of New York - about as far upstate as you can get. The Strategic Air Command base was home to FB-111s and KC-135 Stratotankers, and it played a major role in supporting Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. It closed in September 1995 as a result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure. During the four years I was at Plattsburgh, I had the chance to interview several visiting dignitaries and military leaders. I will always consider John L. Levitow No. 1 among them. Following is the article which was published in "The Champlaner," the base newspaper, on May 1, 1987. Eighteen years after being awarded the Medal of Honor, John L. Levitow is still fighting, only now, it's for the rights and benefits of veterans. "When I served in the Air Force, I knew I had the GI Bill. I knew I had certain hospital benefits. But I didn't expect to use either because I didn't know what I wanted when I got out. And now that I work for the Veterans Administration, I see the benefits have been stripped away," said Mr. Levitow, who is now a VA counselor at a Connecticut VA medical center. The reason behind these cuts is simply a matter of dollars and cents, according to Mr. Levitow. "The veterans themselves are going to have to help themselves when it comes to benefits," he said. "Some cuts are good because they're streamlining what we're doing in the VA. "But we can go overboard if not enough interest is shown. Your service and military organizations need to inform the VA so corrective measures can be taken." The benefits aren't the only changes the Medal of Honor winner has seen since his days in a blue uniform. "The Air Force that I was in and the Air Force today are two different ones. I don't recognize half of what's going on today," he said, citing the changes in the rapport between officers and enlisted. "When I was in," he related, "the officer walked on a cloud and the enlisted man walked on the ground beneath him carrying the baggage. That's not the way anymore. It seems to be leveling off and there's a mutual respect. That's good." It was a special treat for Class 87-E of the 8th Air Force NCO Leadership School to get to meet with Mr. Levitow when he was guest of honor at their graduation banquet. But all Professional Military Education students know of the award that bears his name which signifies honor graduate in a PME course. "The award hasn't affected my life, but I think it's nice," said an unassuming Levitow. "A few years ago, Sam Parish, who then chief master sergeant of the Air Force, caught me at a weak moment. "He asked if he could use my name for the award and I said 'Sure.' I thought he was joking until three months later when he said, "Well, we're handing out the first one,' and I asked 'First what?'" But despite his seemingly nonchalant attitude, Mr. Levitow finds the award a great honor. "It's nice to know you made a little contribution for someone." A "little" contribution? This coming from someone who laid his life on the line to save his aircraft and crew from almost certain death and destruction? Maybe that "quiet hero" outlook is another reason PME students strive so hard for the coveted Levitow award. "I don't believe in idols. I want to form my own opinion. I don't want to copycat anyone," he said, emphasizing, "I take everything in, assess it and hopefully, make my own evaluation." "The Editor's Vault" takes a look at the articles written by retired Air Force Master Sgt. Annette Crawford after a career in public affairs since 1982. Stories are run exactly as they were written at the time; if there are words or terms that are unfamiliar, or if the writing style doesn't seem consistent with other articles on this website, that's why.