Spring 2009

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David Glen Lovitt

David Glen Lovitt was born on December 13, 1947, in Clarinda, Iowa. His parents were farming outside of Bedford, Iowa, where David grew up with his sister, Patti.

He attended grade school in Gravity and graduated from Bedford Community High School in1966. He was a member of the Bedford Methodist Church.

Jerry Wetzel was one of David’s teachers, and wrote this note, “I taught David in American History classes at Bedford and I also was an assistant high school football coach. David played on the team as an offensive lineman, and while he was not a great player, he always worked hard. He was a great kid. I believe football was the only sport he participated in. He undoubtedly had farm duties that made it hard to do school activities.”

After graduating from high school, he attended the winter quarter at Iowa State from November 1966 to February 1967 as an Agriculture special student. Many young people engaged in farming took advantage of winter quarter agriculture classes since they were scheduled after the harvest and before spring planting. David was farming with his father and because he was working, was unable to escape the draft. He entered the Army in January 1968.

He went through basic training at Fort Bliss and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, LA. Following a furlough in June 1968, he shipped to Vietnam where he was assigned to the 25th Infantry.

SP4 Lovitt was driver of the command armored personnel carrier for the 22nd battalion.

In early March 1969, his parents received R&R orders to meet David in Hawaii on March 18. But prior to their departure, they received word that he was missing in action in Tay Ninh province, South Vietnam. Word was soon received that he had died on March 6 in an ambush during a combat operation.

In his award for the Bronze Star, it noted that when his unit encountered a hostile force, he had turned his vehicle into the heavy enemy fire and assaulted the fortification. Despite a direct hit by a rocket propelled grenade, he maintained control of the vehicle until he was able to subdue the opposition. David was cited for his personal bravery, aggressiveness and devotion to duty.