Leonard M. Kravitz

He held his gun position so his fellow soldiers could escape

Leonard M. Kravitz was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1931. He served as a private first class and assistant machine gunner with Company M, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division during the Korean War.

During fighting at Yangpyong on 6 and 7 March 1951, Kravitz took over a machine gun when its gunner was wounded. After an enemy breakthrough forced a withdrawal, he voluntarily remained behind to cover his comrades. His fire drew the attackers' attention and allowed the unit to pull back. Returning troops found him dead at the gun. He died on 7 March.

President Barack Obama presented Kravitz's posthumous Medal of Honor to his niece at the White House on 18 March 2014. He is buried in Knollwood Park Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Medal of Honor citation

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 machine gunner 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.