Michael J. Novosel

Michael J. Novosel
Chief Warrant Officer Michael Novosel
Born	(1922-09-03)September 3, 1922 Etna, Pennsylvania
Died	April 2, 2006(2006-04-02) (aged 83) Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army  United States Air Force
Years of service	1941–1963 (USAF) 1963–1985 (USA)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel (USAF) Chief Warrant Officer (USA)
Unit	283rd Medical Detachment 82nd Medical Detachment
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star Purple Heart Air Medal (64)
Relations	Brian Clevinger, grandson

Michael J. Novosel, Sr. (September 3, 1922 – April 2, 2006) of Enterprise, Alabama served in the United States military in three wars: World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He flew the B-29 Superfortress bomber in World War II. In order to serve in the Vietnam War, he gave up the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve to become a chief warrant officer in the Army. For his bravery in conducting a medical evacuation under fire in this conflict, he was awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

He was born in Pittsburgh-area town of Etna, Pennsylvania, the son of Croatian immigrants, and grew up during the Great Depression.

At the age of 19, Novosel joined what was then the Army Air Corps. That was just ten months prior to Pearl Harbor, and by 1945, he was a captain flying B-29 Superfortress bombers in the war against Japan. He left the service for a brief time due to reductions in force after the war was over and settled in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to raise his family.

Novosel joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and went back on active duty to again serve his country during the Korean War. He left the service again in 1953 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve in 1955.