23/02/2021
RENEWED EFFORTS FOR DEWITT MEDAL OF HONOR UPGRADE
February 24, 2021
Leonard DeWitt would have been 100 years old February 24th, 2021. This man had a remarkable life and serves to remind us in troubled times of character traits that are in short supply. Traits of duty, honor, and willing to fight overwhelming odds to achieve an objective.
While Leonard was still alive, there was a concerted effort to upgrade his Distinguished Service Cross to Medal of Honor status. Operation Eagles Wings formally pledges that, on the date of his 100th birthdate anniversary, we will renew that effort.
We welcome and encourage others to please join the effort.
Leonard wanted the medal upgrade to honor the fighting spirit of the 41st Infantry Division, known as “The Jungleers”. Despite determined and courageous fighting in the steamy jungles of the Pacific, the 41st received no Medals of Honor.
In comparison, the 32nd Infantry division fought in fewer days of combat, suffered fewer battle wounds and fatalities, and yet received more medals of Honor, Distinguished Service Crosses and Silver Stars.
The 32nd Infantry division received 11 Medals of Honor, 157 Distinguished Service Crosses and 845 Silver Stars. The 41st Division received zero Medals of Honor, 25 Distinguished Service Crosses and 400 Silver Stars.
On 28 July 1943, Sgt. Leonard Dewitt was serving with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division as part of “Colvert Force”.
The company was on a ridge top near Boisi, New Guinea. It was the dark of night and Colvert Force was attacked by a committed, larger, and entrenched enemy. Sgt. DeWitt braved machine gun and mortar fire and exposed himself to the enemy.
He voluntarily carried ammunition and gr***des to foxholes in the forward area. He established leadership by removing a panicky solder who was firing into the air.
Sgt. DeWitt advanced into the area taking the heaviest enemy fire and found himself five yards from the enemy who was trying to advance through the opening in the U.S. lines.
The unarmed DeWitt found an abandoned Browning Automatic Rifle and fired that until he ran out of ammo. He then used a Thompson Submachine gun until that too, was depleted. He then threw two Australian hand gr***des.
A Japanese hand gr***de was thrown at him. In the process of avoiding it, he rolled into the ravine and came face to face with two Japanese soldiers.
He stabbed one with his bayonet and hit the other with his helmet. He scrambled back up to the top of the ravine, and out of frustration, Sgt. DeWitt threw his helmet in to the ravine. The enemy may have thought it was a satchel charge of explosives and fled.
This action garnered Dewitt the nickname “Helmet Hero”. Officer statements credit DeWitt with extraordinary heroism, conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. They credit his efforts with preventing more U.S. casualties and keeping the high ridge position from falling into enemy hands.
A three page statement from Infantry Colonel H. Haney describes DeWitt’s actions.
Leonard later said “I couldn’t let them come up, I had no choice. I had to do it whether I lived or died”.
In correspondence dated 17 March 1944, the 41st Infantry Division, Chief of Staff, Col. Kenneth Sweeney wrote a letter for the Commander, Maj. Gen H.H. Fuller to Sergeant Leonard C. DeWitt, stating “The Commanding General directs you to be informed that he has recommended you to higher headquarters for award of the Medal of Honor for recognition of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.”
General Fuller himself approved the MOH recommendation.
The recommendation made its way to General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters where it was delayed for almost two years, and then downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross. In recent years, the Army has been reluctant to upgrade the DSC to Medal of Honor, citing “conflicting testimonies”.
The most significant conflict is from Lieutenant Robert Hudson. Hudson says he was with DeWitt during the night in question, and his narrative does not agree with others.
In following interviews conducted in McMinnville, Oregon, DeWitt says Hudson was “nowhere around” that evening.
Based on research conducted by military historian Alisha Hamel, and noting accounts from the book “The exclusion of Black Soldiers from the Medal of Honor”, Operation Eagles Wings believes a case can be made about discrimination of National Guard and Reserve Soldiers in bestowing the nation’s highest honor.
The book cites at least two formal requests and a visit from Washington Staff to General Douglas MacArthur to stop making field command decisions about Medal of Honor submissions and leave the matter to Washington D.C.
The 41st Infantry Division was comprised of National Guard members from the western U.S. and was considered one of the best infantry divisions in America, due to the number of awards received in military competitions.
In keeping with Leonard’s standard of never giving up, we vow to continue pressing the Army to reconsider or further examine the issues of meritorious decorations being delayed by General Douglas MacArthur and his staff during World War 2 on basis of discrimination.
Accompanying websites are www.jungleers.com; www.leonarddewitt.com, www.ushelmenthero.com
There is a survey on the page and website as we ask people to sign our petition encouraging officials to re-examine the Leonard DeWitt proposal.
Survey web link, please feel free to share
https://www.allcounted.com/s?did=goo51yyff549a&lang=en_US
