~ Pride ~ Honor ~ Valor ~ Sacrifice ~

The Jewish Experience in the U.S. Military
True Stories and Oral Histories

Books by Howard J. Leavitt
 

About the Author

Howard J. Leavitt was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 4, 1929. Raised in neighboring Brookline, he graduated from Brookline High School in 1947 (majoring in baseball and swimming), and from American University (Washington, D.C.) in 1951. In 1959, he received a Master of Arts degree in Spanish from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico City).

Leavitt joined the Marine Corps Reserve in his senior year of high school, was called to active duty in 1951, volunteered for service in Korea, and served two years, including seven months in Korea. He is the recipient of the Presidential United Citation, Navy Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, and the Marine Sharpshooter Medal. He taught high school Spanish and French for thirty years in California.

Now in retirement in Riverside, California, he operates a small photography business and is engaged in his new passion of writing about Jews in the military. Married to the former Beatriz Moreno for over forty years, he and his wife have two daughters and an autistic grandson whom they have been rearing since his birth in 1986.

Leavitt is an active member of his local synagogue and has been commander of Post 512, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, for several years.  He is a member of the Semper Fi Marine Honor Detail, which renders military honors to veterans interred at Riverside National Cemetery, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps Association and the 1st Marine Division Association. He is also an associate member of the 5th Marine Division Association.

Leavitt has served as a volunteer with the Riverside Police Department.

The author has also had the privilege of competing in the Golden Age Veteran’s Games in Oklahoma City, OK in May 2005, where he won a silver medal in Ping-Pong and a gold medal in swimming. On September 23, 2005 he was a guest at the award ceremony at the White House when President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Tibor Rubin.

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