Lt. Devitt proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 30 years. He served with distinction as a Troop Carrier pilot during WWII, which included two glider-towing missions on D-day. He continued to fly as a reserve Air Force officer. During the Korean War he was called to active duty to serve as an ROTC assistant professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Continuing his active duty career after the war, he served as an Electronic Warfare pilot during the Vietnam War and on August 30, 1967, at the age of 47, received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions while flying one of many dangerous missions. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1972.