Richard L. Cevoli

While serving with Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, Cevoli and other members of the squadron strafed a Japanese battleship during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, silencing many of its guns. The following day, he scored a hit with a 500lb bomb, disabling a Japanese aircraft carrier. Cevoli is also credited with four confirmed air victories and three probables during his service with VF-18.[3]

From 1949 until 1951, Cevoli served as the Executive Officer in Fighting Squadron 32 (VF-32) on board the USS Leyte. In the winter of 1950, he and his pilots provided close in air support against 70,000 Chinese soldiers crossing the Yalu River and enabled 30,000 United Nations soldiers to escape encirclement. He was also division leader for Thomas J. Hudner Jr. and Jesse L. Brown. He radioed for help when Brown was shot down on 4 December 1950, during the mission for which Hudner would receive the Medal of Honor.[4] The story of Brown and Hudner's friendship and service is the subject of Adam Makos' book Devotion, which is currently in production as a feature film. Thomas Sadoski has been cast to play Richard Cevoli.[5]

After the war, Cevoli graduated from the Naval War College. In 1954 he assumed command of Fighting Squadron 73 (VF-73) and attained the rank of Commander. He died when his plane crashed during a training mission.[6]