william f pitsenbarger obituary
The round was a tracer, igniting the trousers of his jungle fatigues. This cable contained 3 spring-loaded seats that could be dropped through the heavy canopy to pull up men capable of riding the hoist up. Staff Sergeant James Robinson, a former Marine, had volunteered for Vietnam dutyhad, in fact, engaged in a determined year-long letter-writing campaign from his duty station in Panama in efforts to be assigned as an advisor to soldiers of the Vietnamese Army. He turned to his machine gunner and said, "That guy coming out of the helicopter from above, in an Air Force uniform, must be out of his mind to leave his not-so-safe helicopter for the inferno on the ground." Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. His role had taken him to Perth, Australia as a Pararescue-medic in the earliest days of the space program, working on the Gemini and Mercury space probe recoveries. Father of William Hart Pitsenbarger Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. Mildred Pitsenbarger Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Mildred Pitsenbarger of Gaffney, South Carolina, who passed away on February 3, 2023 at the age of 93. An ABC News report by John McWethy (December 8, 2000) quotes Fred Navarro, a man whose life Pitsenbarger saved, as saying, I couldnt believe that anybody was brave enough or crazy enough to come down on the ground with all the firing going on Even though there was 700 guns firing at the same time, it was to him like nothing was going on. Pits expected the Air Force Huskies, or at least Pedro 97, to return for more wounded. After he graduated from high school, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, and on New Year's Eve 1962, he was on a train bound for basic training in San Antonio. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. More than 30 years later, Pentagon investigator Scott Huffman probes a Medal of Honor request for Pits made by his family and his friends . 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. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. He was one of the few calm visions of hope that moved among the damned. After Air Force basic training, the young airman had continued to push the envelope and expand his thirst for adventure. No sane man could live through such a nightmare without such emotion. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. The Viet Cong were everywhere. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. One cannot judge the young men who reacted to the horrible events of April 11th with fear and panic. which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and She was born on June 14, 1932, in Franklin, WV, the daughter of the late Arthur J. and Ida Mae (Propst) Lambert. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an on-going firefight between elements of the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division and a sizable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. The dragging litter threatened to snag in the foliage and bring Pedro 73 crashing to the ground. Try again later. Feb 21, 2023 0 HOOVER Janet Imogene (Pitsenbarger) Hoover, 91, of Dayton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Blue Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing in Harrisonburg. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Normally the unit consisted of 291 men but, going intoOperation Abilene, company strength was down to 134 soldiers. He was killed. While there, it was the Air Force recruiter who captured the young man's attention. Only two members of Sergeant Navarro's 10-man squad had survived. When the mission called for such acts of personal courage, there was never a shortage of volunteers. (Note: Only the US Air Force HH43 Huskie helicopter could rescue wounded from the jungle. The helicopter was forced to abandon recovery efforts to make an emergency landing at a nearby airstrip. There was an error deleting this problem. We have set your language to Brother of Frances Winifred McMaster and Loren Elwood Pitsenbarger. At noon sniper fire began. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and return fire whenever he could, during which time, he was wounded three times. Artie Eugene Grose Obituary. Pitsenbarger was in his element in Vietnam. The choppers could only carry two stokes litter patients on each in-and-out, and only one if there was no PJ aboard. Navarro described the April 11, 1966 battle, where he was rescued by Airman 1st Class William Hart Pitsenbarger, now the subject of a Hollywood movie. Two Air Force Huskies were quickly airborne and moving east to find and extract the wounded soldiers of Charlie Company. Upon completing his first TDY assignment, he volunteered to return and received orders in 1965 to report to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. On March 7th Pits' aircrew flew on a mission to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier who had walked into an old minefield while fighting a fire. Subsequent to the award, Pitsenbarger will also be posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. William F. Pitsenbarger will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf. File; File history; File usage on Commons; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 525 pixels. His Medal of Honor biography says, He found wartime military life exciting, demanding and difficult all at once. Born in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, she was the widow of the late James Pitsenbarger and daughter of the late William Richter Corron and Matilda May Nixon Corron. On the ground, Pits signaled for the penetrator. . To use this feature, use a newer browser. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force awarded its second-highest award, the Air Force Cross, to nineteen enlisted airmen. Also attending was an elderly gentleman, now well into his 80sWilliam F. Pitsenbarger. Their sonthat's what this was all about. The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. According to members of his squadron, Bill enjoyed participating in flights to treat patients at a leper colony in Viet Cong controlled territory. Once he was lowered from a helicopter to rescue a South Vietnamese soldier in a burning mine field. The Air Force rescue craft with their twin rotors was not as trim in appearance as the "Dustoffs" used by the Army for evacuating their own wounded. The Air Force Association awards a $750 Pitsenbarger scholarship to the top USAF enlisted personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree and submits a competitive award nomination package. [8] During the same ceremony he was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff sergeant. Born February 19, 1927 at Thayer, WV she was the daughter of the late William Haynes and Ocie Dean Haynes As the last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by three brothers Alfred . As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and returned fire whenever he could, during which time he was wounded three times.. PJs were born out of the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and two medical corpsmen who parachuted into remote jungles near the China-Burma border in August 1943 to rescue survivors from a disabled C-46. The rescue effort took on new efficiency with an experienced man on the ground. Pitsenbarger was later sent on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Vietnam. Alice Pitsenbarger (right) observes as her husband, William F. Pitsenbarger (center), accepts the Medal of Honor on behalf of his son, A1C William H. Pitsenbarger, from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters, during a ceremony Dec. 8, 2000, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The highway runs near the hometowns of four pararescuemen who died in service to their country. Jane L Pitsenbarger of Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born on March 15, 1915. Try again later. She was born May 8, 1931, in Moyers, W.Va., a daughter of the late Benjamin Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Though wounded, he continued his work. The Pentagon is a mighty big place, an Americaninstitutionfilled with legends, lore, and high-ranking military men and women. Even as a lad he had flirted with danger, taking his childhood games like "follow the leader" to the ledges of the highest buildings or the limbs of the tallest trees. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Next to him, all was quiet. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum. His pararescue training was put to the test soon after arriving at Hamilton Air Force Base. On December 2, 1950, she married William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, who preceded her in death. Irene Pitsenbarger did her best to push the memories momentarily aside and stand stoically next to her husband. A system error has occurred. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. File: Medal of Honor presented to William H. Pitsenbarger's parents 2000-12-08.jpg. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. An official website of the United States government, National Museum of the United States Air Force, All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. Next to him, the wounded Sergeant Navarro was struggling to stay alive and to resist. Thanks for your help! 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. By this time, the Viet Cong were lobbing mortars into the area, and American forces responded by dropping artillery rounds in and around the small perimeter the survivors of Charlie Company were trying to create. On that day, he was aboard a rescue helicopter that was sent to evacuate casualties of a firefight between the Armys 1st Infantry Division and Viet Cong enemy forces. William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 - April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. Oops, something didn't work. His experience expedited the process of getting the wounded soldier into the stokes litter and a fourth casualty was being hauled skyward. Within days of that horrible night, Sergeant Fred Navarro provided the Air Force with a taped statement detailing the heroism of Airman First Class William Pitsenbarger in support of a recommendation for the Medal of Honor. Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Quickly the attack escalated to intense mortar and machinegun fire throughout the entire area. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. In the distance, he could see an Army medic kneeling to bandage the wounds of a wounded American infantryman. 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. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. 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. PIQUA Thursday evening was the homecoming celebration William H. Pitsenbarger never got after his sacrifices during the Vietnam War. Then, over the cries of the wounded, he heard the sound of a returning rescue helicopter. - Firearms* O'Berne replied that he was. At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of April 11th, the call for help arrived at the headquarters of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was a rescue and survival specialist aboard a helicopter engaged in the evacuating of American casualties in a dense jungle. Pitsenbargers Medal of Honor citation says, When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. Of the 134 soldiers in Charlie Company at the beginning ofOperation Abilene, there were 106 casualties. The elder Pitsenbarger struggled with his own emotions, unable any longer to restrain the tears. Alice C Pitsenbarger : Abt 1913: 7 Jan 2000: Redfield IA: View Record. Captain Harold Salem piloted the back-up aircraft, "Pedro 73". william schur regis grandson Home Uncategorized maryse burgot qui est son mari February 22, 2023 Off doctors accepting new patients in cambridge, ontario , You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. In a ceremony held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 8, 2000, Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten "Whit" Peters presented the Medal of Honor to the parents, William F. and Alice Pitsenbarger, of Airman 1st Class William F. Pitsenbarger. In addition to being designated Main Street through the city of Daytonwhere the Wright Brothers designed their airplanestate route 48 also runs along Miami Memorial Park north of Covington, Ohio, where all four are buried. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Not only had he chosen to serve his country in uniform, but he had also chosen to serve among some of the most elite. Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, better known as "The Big Red One", began to move into the jungle between Saigon and Vung Tau in search of the enemy. 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. William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 - April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. Like nothing could hurt him. The package was about 10 feet off the ground and Pits was reaching upwards to receive it when a flurry of enemy .30 caliber rounds from two separate positions, raked the hovering rescue helicopter. The Pitsenbarger Sports Complex at Piqua, Ohio, the Pitsenbarger Dining Hall at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Pitsenbarger dormitory at Dover Air Force Base are named in his honor. OperationAbilenebegan on April 10, 1966Easter Sunday. Then, with the dignity unprecedented valor demands, the story of William Pitsenbarger was read in greater detail than his Air Force Cross citation had set forth. Geni requires JavaScript! Two men were killed, twelve wounded, and the tall sergeant from Cicero, Illinois set his men to the task of clearing a landing zone for medevac choppers to extract the casualties. regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters. It was like walking into a whole new world, a world separated from their small hometown of Piqua, Ohio by more than miles. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. As one of the helicopters lowered its litter basket to Pitsenbarger, who had remained on the ground with the 20 infantrymen still alive, it was hit by a burst of enemy small-arms fire. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. An estimated battalion of the enemy from the main force regiment was involved. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended . 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. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. When he found the bodies of American boys that could not be saved, he gathered weapons and ammunition to distribute among those who could still fight. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. At times, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand. 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. They forbade it, but after graduating in 1962 he enlisted in the Air Force. He loved to help and bless anybody he could. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. By. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Then had come the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam. Irene Pitsenbarger may have thought briefly about the many times her young son had given her reason for fright. Pits' solution? As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The PJ on board was one of the Pits' closest friends, Harry O'Berne. Later that same afternoon the Senator would write in theCongressional Record, "They (Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger) stood there heroically, in my opinion reflecting the courageous and stalwart character of their son.". Iowa, Death Records, 1880-June 1904 and 1921-1951 at Ancestry/requires payment; includes images of the death certificates from 1921-1951 and images of the death registers from 1880-June 1904. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. It was nearing 7:30 in the evening as the enemy fire was beginning to taper off. ). By 3:30 the two Air Force choppers were hovering over the tops of the jungle canopy while death and devastation raged below. Add to your scrapbook. As Captain Salem headed towards the aid station, Pedro 97 moved in to hover over the battlefield. On the ground, things had gone from bad to worse. When the company was ordered to move a short distance, the intrepid Airman began cutting branches to improvise litters to transport the wounded. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Viola Jane Bowyer. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. His only remark when the call for help arrived had been, "I have a bad feeling about this mission." Bailey Zechar Funeral Home . Edit Search New Search. In addition to the Airman's Medal and the Vietnamese awards, their son had received the Purple Heart and six Air Medals with four more pending. Try again later. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. The only hope of getting the wounded out and headed for emergency field hospitals lay with the Air Force Huskies that were capable of hovering above the canopy to lower an empty stokes litter, then winch it back up with the body of a wounded strapped inside. Days later in retrospect, he added, "We were in the fight of our lives, and I just couldn't understand why anybody would put himself in this grave danger if he didn't have to.". Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Results 1-20 of 39 View Record Name Birth Date Publication Date Death Place; View Record. Airman Pitsenbarger arrived in Vietnam on August 8th and was assigned to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base. Surviving is a son, Richter "Rick" James Pitsenbarger of St. Albans, West Virginia; a sister, Agnes Hodge (Sammy) of Hot Springs, Virginia. https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. Failed to remove flower. The subsequent review determined that the level of voluntary heroism displayed by the 21-year old PJ in the jungles of Vietnam was more in keeping with the levels of valor reflected by the Medal of Honor. January 24, 2020. Three of the men died in Vietnam and one in the Gulf War. An adventurer since boyhood, his greatest thrill had always been the opportunity to save lives. These men were now cut off from Able and Bravo companies and were surrounded by 400 or more enemy soldiers. He was born. An Air Force rescue helicopter came over and lowered a ladder. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The U.S. 1st Division Infantrymen found them Monday afternoon and in the bitter fight perhaps a third or more of their company were killed or wounded. "All of us PJs had a strong desire to save lives," said Chief Master Sergeant Dave Milsten, the ranking Pararescueman in Detachment 6, "that's what we lived for. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Seven of his 10-man squad had already been killed in action. Ranging in age from 19-21, most had never witnessed such horror firsthand. He was credited with saving nine lives. He even gave away his own pistol, and did have a firearm to return enemy fire. cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. Still taking fire, the infantrymen were struggling between survival and attempts to load a wounded man in the litter. When Airman Pitsenbarger got orders for service in the war zone in August 1965 he had only a little more than a year remaining in his 4-year Air Force enlistment. The enemy fire reached out to tear flesh and the medic fell to the ground. This was granted. He was born December 22, 1927 in Moyers,WV a son of the late Benjamin "Cam" Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. Born June 17, 1934, in Frankford, WV, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Flora Mae Loudermilk Yates. At some point, a fatal bullet hit him. It was placed by The Valley of the Jolly Green Giants and the Ohio Historical Society. Clarence William Pitsenbarger. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. In the hour and a half Pits was on the ground, he was everywhere. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. One hundred eighty American soldiers on patrol had come upon a much larger force of Viet Cong in a dense jungle area. When Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger accepted that award on behalf of their heroic son on September 22, 1966, William Pits Pitsenbarger became the first enlisted airman in history to receive the Air Force's second-highest award for military heroism, posthumously. Part of Pitsenbarger uniform is on display in the Southeast Asia Gallery of the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. More Air Force rescue training and jungle survival school followed. Army Sergeant Fred Navarro of Hutchins, Kansas was a squad leader in Charlie 2/16th. 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. He had enlisted in the Air Force and would soon be boarding a train for San Antonio to begin his training. In one lifeless hand Pits still held his M-16 rifle. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Retha Mae (Simmons) Pitsenbarger, 90, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at Pendleton Manor. NAME: Jonathan B. Pittsenborger GENDER: Male MARRIAGE DATE: 21 Nov 1839 MARRIAGE PLACE: Darke, Ohio, USA SPOUSE: Mary Pittsenberger FILM NUMBER: 001030772 From Ancestry.com J. Pitsenbarger in the 1880 United States Federal Census I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. All Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016 results for Pitsenbarger. [11][12] Slowly, the citation was read: "A1c William H. Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force near Cam My, the Republic of Vietnam on 11 April 1966. He stared at them in awe and never cried. Results 1-20 of 372 View Record Name Birth Date Publication Date Publication Place Relatives; View Record. Pedro 97 went in first, lowering the stokes litter to retrieve one of the wounded. His unit was responsible for many different kinds of rescue missions, from recovering downed pilots to evacuating wounded airmen or soldiers for both the US military units as well as South Vietnamese units. The full force of the aggressors turned their firepower on the advancing American. We moved into a perimeter. William Pitsenbarger loved his job. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. Shortly after rescue efforts were interrupted, the area came under heavy sniper and mortar fire. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, on December 8, 2000, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor posthumously to: Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on April 11, 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. Pitsenbarger, or simply "Pits," grew up in the small town of Piqua in Ohio as an only child. In the quiet dignity of the halls of the Pentagon, the senior Pitsenbarger remembered how proud he had been of his son. Shirley was born December 29, 1932, in Miami County to the late Milton & Edna (Niesley) Buckingham. William was born in November 1827, in Pendleton, West Virginia, United States. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -. He personally saved over sixty men. At some point during the rescue, they encountered a bear. He was chosen for pararescue duty and sent to several military schools in a variety of locations for further training: survival school, Army Infantry Jump School, Rescue and Survival Technicians Medical Course, Naval School of Underwater Swimmers and Air Rescue Service Transition Tree Jump Training. It was the first time the pararescueman had ever voiced any misgivings about any mission. She was a homemaker. The recommendation for William Pitsenbarger's Medal of Honor was downgraded to the Air Force Cross. On April 11, 1966, a call came to help 134 men of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion . Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. He came there to save lives and that was what he was doing.. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. This action earned him the Airman's Medal and the Republic of Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.[4]. based on information from your browser. Sidney Daily News. Pitsenbarger Medal of Honor Ceremony. Since the litter was already outside the helicopter, Hammond placed the penetrator inside the stokes and began lowering both. Of 372 View Record that was what he was one of the Jolly Green Giants and Ohio. The call for help arrived had been, `` Pedro 73 '' fatal bullet him... Their own family member was everywhere first Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers firing! 2, 1950, she married William & quot ; Virgil & quot ; Virgil & quot Pitsenbarger... 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