American Legion Long Beach MS Post 1995 Pot Namesake
Marine SSgt. Donnie Leo-Ford Levens
American Legion Long Beach MS Post 1995 was honored when Gold Star mother Margaret Levens gave us permission to rename the Post after her fallen hero.
During a commencement address at MGCC in May of 2006, President Bush singled out graduating family members of SSgt Levens telling them that “America honors the services of Donnie Levens.” As do we at Donnie Levens American Legion Post 1995.
Staff Sergeant Levens was a local boy who graduated from Long Beach High School in 1998 before joining the United States Marine Corps.
He received two Good Conduct Medals from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. After graduating with top scholastic honors from the Aviation Ordnanceman Course in Pensacola in 1999, he was designated as a MOS 6541 (Aviation Ordnance Systems Technician). Also in 1999, then Lance Corporal Levens was recognized for earning the highest course average in the H-1 Armament “O” Level Maintenance Course and for his “infectious enthusiasm and indomitable spirit de corps”. Lastly, he was awarded the Air Medal for the “successful completion of 89 combat sorties over Iraq [where] he contributed materially to the success of national objectives in the liberation of the Iraqi people”.
Besides his meritorious service in the Marines, Donnie has been recognized numerous times for his volunteering and offering special assistance. While stationed in Hawaii, he volunteered at Kailua Elementary School, participating in fund raising activities, Fund Faire Projects, mentoring students, and Fun Run for Technology.
Assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, he was deployed to Djibouti as part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. While flying a training mission on 17 February 2006 in the vicinity of Ras Siyyan, Djibouti, his CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter was involved in a mid-air collision and crashed into the Gulf of Aden. He was among eight Marines and two airmen killed that day. He was promoted posthumously to Staff Sergeant.
