On this Veterans Day I thought this would be an appropriate time to tell the story about my great uncle Jules Levine.
My uncle Julie (great uncle Jules) was an Army private serving in Italy during World War II. On June 2nd, 1944 his platoon needed to seize control of a hilltop near a highway junction. This was strategically essential to allow safe highway passage for Allied troops. Uncle Julie led a group of soldiers up the hill under heavy enemy machine gunfire. After being pinned down, Private Levine charged right into enemy fire - alone – and captured the enemy emplacements. What’s more amazing is that he then ran into the forest and single-handedly captured three of the fleeing enemy soldiers, including an officer. On August 5th, 1944, Private Levine was awarded the Silver Star. Below you can read the transcription of the original order (some details were redacted by the government). As a recipient of the Silver Star, Uncle Julie is now buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
5 August 1944General Orders ) Number 58 )
*** ******* ***I-AWARDS OF THE SILVER STAR Under the provision of Army Regulations 600-45, as amended, a Silver Star is awarded to the following named individuals:
*** ******* ***
JULES LEVINE, 32396765, Private, Company “K”, ***th Infantry, for gallantry in action. On 2 June 1944 near *****, ***, Private LEVINE displayed outstanding heroism and disregard of enemy fire in assault of an enemy position. Leading the advance of his company to seize the high ground commanding a highway junction, he was fired upon from enemy emplacements on the objective. Aggressively moving forward in full view of the enemy and disregarding the artillery shells striking in front of him, he located located the enemy emplacements. Unhesitating in the fire of machine pistols and rifles of whom he was the target, this courageous scout ran forward alone in the assault of the hostile positions and when the enemy abandoned their emplacements in flight for the woods to their rear Private LEVINE raced on and captured three of them, including an officer. His platoon moved in and completed the seizure of the objective. The unhesitating aggressiveness Of Private LEVINE and his heroic disregard of enemy fire at risk to his life were the principal features in the success of the mission and were an inspiration to all the men who saw his deed. Entered military service from Brooklyn, New York.
*** ******* ***
By command of Major General SLOANR.J. McBRIDE
Colonel, G.S.C.,
Chief of StaffOFFICIAL:W.J. ZERGER
Capt., A.G.D.
Asst. Adj. General
Thank you Uncle Julie.
Happy Veterans Day.
