“Mr. Luitwieler is not only an American hero, but a shining example of selfless leadership and a pillar of Oklahoma’s veteran community,” said Rep. Hern. “His work in multiple local organizations is lifechanging for many of our veterans. I am proud to present this award to Mr. Luitwieler and shine a light on the incredible work he does here in Oklahoma.”

Mr. Luitwieler served in the Vietnam war with military intelligence. He earned the Vietnamese equivalent of a bronze star during the Tet Offensive in January 1968, when his compound was surrounded by North Vietnamese troops. The South Vietnamese machine gunners abandoned their position under incoming fire, but Mr. Luitwieler and a Marine Lieutenant stepped up, manned the machine gun for hours, and kept the enemy troops at bay.

After he retired, Mr. Luitwieler started meeting the needs of veterans in his community, dedicating his time to helping American heroes. He currently serves as the Program Manager for Warrior Partnerships of Eastern Oklahoma (WPEO), and the Oklahoma Veteran Connections, both of which are affiliated with the Community Service Council of Tulsa.

On Thursday, March 14, at the WPEO monthly meeting, Rep. Hern’s district director Robert Aery surprised Mr. Luitweiler with the award and presented him with a copy of the statement Rep. Hern submitted to the Congressional Record in honor of Mr. Luitwieler.