In the 275 days from August 8, 1965 to April 11, 1966, Airman First Class William Pitsenbarger flew more than 300 rescue missions over the jungles of Vietnam. It was on those occasions I saw Airman Pitsenbarger moving around and pulling wounded men out of the line of fire and then bandaging their wounds. After Air Force basic training, the young airman had continued to push the envelope and expand his thirst for adventure. Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. Of those nineteen awards, ten were awarded to Pararescuemen. better known as PJs. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. - Strollers Meanwhile, Alpha and Bravo Companies poised themselves for a rescue attempt at daylight. Rupert Pitsenbarger: year: date: city, Washington: He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other This allowed the rescue team to recover 4-5 wounded men with each in and out trip of the helicopters. After his training was completed, he returned to Piqua on leave and then to his first duty assignment at Hamilton Air Force Base in California. Learn more about managing a memorial . That done, Captain Bachman returned to use the stokes to pull one more wounded soldier from the field of battle. Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. Prohibited Items: If you had a need, Lenie was your guy! When he was just a junior in high school, Pitsenbarger had dreams of joining the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, but his parents would not give their permission. This account has been disabled. At Stead AFB, Nevada, he completed the combat survival course, at Elgin AFB in Florida he attended the Tropical Survival School, and at Albrook AFB, C.Z. Amid a flood of memories, an invocation by the Chief of the Air Force Chaplain Service, and remarks by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force the Honorable F. Whitten Peters stepped to the podium. Pitsenbarger was later sent on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Vietnam. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. His name can be found on Panel 06E Line 102 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As the couple waited for the ceremony to begin, perhaps they could not avoid remembering young William Pitsenbarger's zest for lifea zeal that had always driven him to experience every adventure and push the envelope to the limits. Ranging in age from 19-21, most had never witnessed such horror firsthand. He is the sixth enlisted airman to receive the Medal of Honor. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. She was born on June 14, 1932, in Franklin, WV, the daughter of the late Arthur J. and Ida Mae (Propst) Lambert. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to those still alive. [9], Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger has been awarded the following:[10], Pitsenbarger was the first enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross medal, receiving the award posthumously in 1966.[5]. In fact, the letters and pictures he sent back seemed to indicate that Airman Pitsenbarger was actually having a good time at the Air Base a short distance from the South Vietnamese capital city of Saigon. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Gallant, they were true. The elder Pitsenbarger gratefully accepted the award on behalf of his only son. The company commander, Capt. After he graduated in 1962, an Air Force recruiter inspired him to sign up. [3] Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966. For Mr. and Mrs. William Pitsenbarger, the September 22, 1966 visit to the home of America's military men and women had all the elements of culture shock. No longer could he hear the sounds of William Pitsenbarger's M-16. You can always change this later in your Account settings. GREAT NEWS! Young William had come home after his extensive training a grown man, confident that he could accomplish any task and fulfill any demands his job might require. For nearly a month the officer and his two medics had treated the injured while leading them to rescue. Pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger flew more than 250 rescue missions during the Vietnam War. He was born June 17, 1933, in Moyers, WV and was the son of the late Henry M. Pitsenbarger, Sr., and Nora Alice (Smith) Pitsenbarger. The guest list included combat veterans, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a Congressional representative, and the Air Force Chief of Staff. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. Add to your scrapbook. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. He. Oops, something didn't work. After six wounded men had been flown to an aid station, the two U.S. Air Force helicopters returned for their second load. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force. When William A Pitsenbarger was born on 1 May 1866, in Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States, his father, Abraham Pitsenbarger, was 35 and his mother, Martha Dozier, was 31. On Monday, the second day of the sweep, the rugged terrain forced Charlie Company to move outward instead of parallel to Alpha and Bravo Companies. "I'm sorry but one of your buddies was killed last night," he informed the PJ, then pointed towards a poncho covered bundle in the distance. During most of the missions the rescues were conducted under fire from enemy forces. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. As darkness began to fall, he disappeared for about 10 minutes, returning to the area receiving the heaviest enemy fire with 20 or more magazines of ammunition he had scrounged from among the dead. Jane L Pitsenbarger of Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born on March 15, 1915. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. On December 8, 2000, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the airman's father, William F. Pitsenbarger, and his wife, Alice, accepted the Medal of Honor from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters. There was a problem getting your location. This was granted. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Ohio Miami County Covington DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at The two Huskies then turned towards the field aid station 7 miles away near the village of Binh Ba. Realizing the two wounded men were dangerously exposed to continued enemy fire, Robinson ignored the whine of deadly missiles around him to rush into the open and drag the two wounded men to safety. Haley, of Ukiah, Calif., was dirty and unkept after his unit had been in the jungles 30 miles east of Saigon for two weeks searching for the Viet Cong. Along with Pitsenbarger, the men honored on the sign are: Msgt. PIQUA Thursday evening was the homecoming celebration William H. Pitsenbarger never got after his sacrifices during the Vietnam War. The firefight was at Cam My, in the Republic of Vietnam, about 35 miles east of Saigon. We moved into a perimeter. At the same time, when things were not quiet, Pits was great to have around, especially if you were a downed airman alone in enemy-controlled jungle or a wounded soldier in the field. Jane Pitsenbarger passed away at age 82 years old on April 10, 1997. Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93 of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021 at 12:10 AM at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. Those who knew Pitsenbarger will never forget his courage and willingness to go the last mile to save a soldier. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. Mr. Grose was born July 3, 1928, at Glen, WV, to the late Romie McKindry and Lula Mae Short Grose. A system error has occurred. Elle y voque notamment, comme rarement, sa vie prive et fait des confidences sur la naissance de ses deux enfants et ce qu'elle a chang william f pitsenbarger obituary; ww2 bomb map eastbourne; maryse burgot qui est son mari. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. Usually when a PJ "went in", he rode the penetrator down to either load a casualty in the stokes litter or aid two casualties in riding the penetrator. Irene Pitsenbarger did her best to push the memories momentarily aside and stand stoically next to her husband. Many of the wounded were yelling for their mothers. Quickly the total darkness of the jungle night was falling across the area as the two men lay in their position returning fire on the enemy. By 3:30 the two Air Force choppers were hovering over the tops of the jungle canopy while death and devastation raged below. For those whose lives he touched, he will never be forgotten. The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. Pitsenbarger, or simply "Pits," grew up in the small town of Piqua in Ohio as an only child. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. William Hart Pitsenbarger as a boy was determined to become an elite warrior. Arriving with the Army's CH47 helicopters on Tuesday morning was the only operable Huskie from Detachment 6. Pitsenbargers last, and probably most gallant mission, was on April 11, 1966. 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