Airman First Class William "Pits" Pitsenbarger was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously after he sacrificed himself to save numerous wounded soldiers. The detachment commander, Maj. Maurice Kessler, was flying as copilot. There would be no reinforcements any time soon. “I observed Pitsenbarger communicating with the helicopter using hand signals, waving them off at least twice,” Navarro said. He had been through Army jump school at Ft. Benning, Ga., and qualified by the Navy as a scuba diver. Search-and-rescue missions did not happen every day, but when they did, the choppers often flew multiple sorties, searching the jungles or shuttling between battle zones, bases, and field hospitals. 300. Thirty-four years after his death, Airman William H. Pitsenbarger, Jr. ("Pits") is awarded the nation's highest military honor, for his actions on the battlefield. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. 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. On June 30, 1966, Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross. For in-depth coverage, AF.MIL provides special reports, video, audio, and photo galleries. “Down he went as Hammond snaked him down through the trees to the wounded and survivors waiting below. Medals Awarded to Members of the US Army. The psychological pressure was beyond comprehension. When the choppers returned to the jungle site, Pitsenbarger asked the pilot to put him on the ground. Hammond hoisted the penetrator back up and sent a Stokes litter down to Pits.”. He hovered below treetop level. At 3:07 p.m., Bien Hoa got the call to go from the search-and-rescue control center in Saigon. Bachman’s crew took another soldier aboard, and the two helicopters took the wounded to an Army hospital at Binh Ba, eight miles to the south. His Medal of Honor citation reads: Time and again … Again, our main concern was to try some way to get Pits on board. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Airman Pitsenbarger is the 59th Medal of Honor recipient, and sixth enlisted recipient, from the Air Force and its predecessor organizations. In the Pentagon, the proposal had to be reviewed by various offices and organizations and might well have mired down in bureaucratic muck had it not been for a special champion. The rotor blades were out of track, and badly so. 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. A concerted effort by the Airmen Memorial Museum, an arm of AFSA, documented the events of April 11, 1966, in great detail and gathered statements from eyewitnesses. “He was signaling for a Stokes litter. He must have known that we were taking heavy ground fire. It would be over 30 years before the heroic actions of Pitsenbarger were recognized and nominated for the Medal of Honor. With Pits on the ground, the helicopters took turns extracting wounded soldiers from the jungle. He pointed in the direction of Bill’s body. On Dec. 8, 2000, the Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to A1C William H. Pitsenbarger in a ceremony at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, not far from his hometown of Piqua. We…, Authorized U.S. arms sales abroad jumped 2.8 percent, climbing to $175.08 billion in 2020 from $170.09 in 2019, fueled largely by major F-35 sales, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Dec. 4. As a PJ, he was both a medic and a survival specialist. Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters, who had heard about the case from Pitsenbarger supporters, took a personal interest. Ronald Bachman, was airborne at 3:12 p.m. Pitsenbarger was on Pedro 73, which was close behind. A1C William H. Pitsenbarger was in the alert trailer when the call came in. Copyright 2020. I searched and found it covered with a poncho. Hal Salem, the helicopter pilot, and retired Maj. Gen. Allison C. Brooks, former commander of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, made a new nomination of Pitsenbarger for the Medal of Honor, satisfying the second requirement. Pitsenbarger concealed my body with a dead soldier, probably to protect me from getting hit again or even from being killed if we were overrun. Three rifle companies–Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie–of the 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment were conducting the search near the village of Cam My. 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, at Bien Hoa, 20 miles northeast of Saigon. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. The VC mounted three massive assaults against the perimeter that evening and Charlie Company survived the night only by calling in artillery almost on top of itself. The total reflects all deals DSCA has approved in the fiscal year, $50.78 billion of which is implemented…. I was able to keep the helicopter fairly steady now, using full right rudder. “At some point, the helicopter began taking heavy enemy fire. During his movement around our perimeter, he would scramble past me and deliver a handful of magazines.”, “After I was wounded, sometime around 6 p.m., Pitsenbarger came by the tree where I and several other wounded and dead soldiers [were],” said Daniel Kirby, who was an infantryman in Company C. “He looked at my wound, stated that it was not overly serious, and said something to the effect of, ‘Don’t give up; we can get out of this mess.’ He then left and that was the last time I remember seeing him.”. For ignoring his own safety and remaining behind to treat and evacuate as many wounded as possible, Pitsenbarger was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to … Several of them had been firing their weapons on full automatic and were running short of ammunition. For his bravery and sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decorations, the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross, becoming th… All around them was triple-canopy jungle, the tallest trees reaching up 150 feet. Medals Awarded to Members of the US Air Force. At the same time, he amazingly proceeded to return enemy fire whenever he could. Former Navy SEAL Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) earlier this year floated the idea of calling Space Force personnel admirals or…, On Dec. 8 at 9:30 a.m. EST, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Lt. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella for a discussion about how the service is maintaining aircraft and pilot readiness, the development of the Advanced Battle Management…, As the final days of 2020 count down, House and Senate negotiators have agreed on sweeping defense policy legislation that offers nearly $732 billion to the armed forces in fiscal 2021. It would be awarded posthumously. I removed Bill’s gear and took the body back to the evacuating area.”. The opening was so tight that the whirling helicopter blades passed within five feet of the trees. Beside Pitsenbarger in the rear seats was A1C Gerald Hammond, the crew chief. As engine RPM dropped, the helicopter began sinking slowly. Salem thought about it, discussed it with the crew, and decided that Pitsenbarger was right. “Once I’m down there I can really help out,” he told Salem. Pitsenbarger was sending them up both in the litter and on the forest penetrator. This will bring up your browser's "Find" function, where you can enter the last name of an individual and skip to them on the list. Navarro said that Pitsenbarger gave his handgun to one of the wounded who could not hold a rifle. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It took several years, but Pitsenbarger’s Air Force Cross was eventually upgraded. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Air Force veteran John Pierson of Roseburg poses for a photograph at the Roseburg National Cemetery Annex. But the story of William Pitsenbarger would not die. What kept it alive? The Air Force’s HH-43 helicopters could lower a hoist to the jungle floor. He was initially posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Army was reporting at least six casualties. The mismatch was of little concern, since the soldiers expected to be reinforced if they encountered the enemy in strength. Before he reached it, the helicopter’s hydraulics were hit, causing it to go out of control. “The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. In September 1966, Pitsenbarger’s Air Force Cross, awarded posthumously, was presented to his parents by Gen. John P. McConnell, Air Force Chief of Staff. Later, Pitsenbarger took up a position next to me. On April 11, 1966, the 21-year-old, known as "Pits" to his friends, was killed while defending some of his wounded comrades. Congressional Medal of … “Pitsenbarger continued cutting pants legs, shirts, pulling off boots, and generally taking care of the wounded. On Salem’s recommendation, Col. Arthur Beall, commander of the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, nominated Pitsenbarger for the Medal of Honor. Three requirements had to be met for upgrade: (1) new information, (2) recommendation from someone in the chain of command, (3) submission by a member of Congress. Hammond hooked it up and began lowering to Pits. “Hammond kept the Stokes litter going down while signaling for Pits to grab hold of the Stokes litter when it came within reach so we could pull him out. When he was growing up in Piqua, Ohio, he had been called “Bill,” but to his colleagues at Bien Hoa, he was more often “Pits.”. By mid-afternoon, D-800 had Charlie Company isolated and encircled. Charlie Company had marked its location with colored smoke. I said a silent prayer for him. He and Joe Lineberger, director of the Air Force Review Boards Agency, put their full weight behind the effort. MEDAL BY NUMBERS Click numbers to see those recipients. After decades of requests for upgrade by surviving Soldiers and Airmen, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family on December 8, 2000. Pitsenbarger died about 7:30 p.m., Navarro said. Pitsenbarger was 21 years old. As Pedro 73 maneuvered up and out of the pickup hole, the litter got hopelessly snagged in the trees and had to be cut loose. I’m sure they were surprised to see someone come down into their hellhole. The Airmen Memorial Museum in Suitland, Md., has catalogued almost two dozen memorials, buildings, streets, and awards named for him. He was the first enlisted member to be awarded the Air Force Cross. It took the two helicopters about half an hour to reach the battle. Pitsenbarger was the first Air Force enlisted man to earn the Medal of Honor since the U.S. Air Force was established as a separate service in 1947. The film, “The Last Full Measure,” is in theaters nationwide on Jan. 24.The film is based on the true story of Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Air Force A1C William Pitsenbarger, who was killed in action on April 11, 1966.The dramatization follows his heroism, the men who were saved by his actions and the decades-long effort to posthumously award him the Medal of Honor. “There’s about a million VC in the area,” he said. “My immediate concern was to keep the chopper flying and not hit any trees that were just a few feet away from the tips of the rotor blades,” Salem said. Medals Awarded to Members of the US Marine Corps. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. He would be the PJ-the Pararescue Jumper-on the second crew. “What we didn’t know on Monday, April 11, was that we were walking straight into D-800’s base camp, and that the undergrowth was so utterly dense in this part of the jungle that we couldn’t be reinforced easily,” said John W. Libs, who in 1966 was a first lieutenant leading C Company’s 2nd Platoon. The extraction was precarious because the soldiers had not strapped the wounded man in. Two B-52s took off from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., en…, The U.S. military will withdraw the “majority” of its personnel and assets from Somalia by early 2021, the Pentagon announced without providing specifics. Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters presented the award, which was accepted by William F. Pitsenbarger on his son’s behalf. AF.MIL delivers the latest breaking news and information on the U.S. Air Force including top stories, features, leadership, policies, and more. Snipers in the trees shot soldiers in the back as they lay prone in the firing position. Charles F. Navarro, a squad leader in Charlie Company’s 1st Platoon. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. Hal Salem. The pilot of Pedro 73 was Capt. President Donald J. Trump ordered the move, though the Defense Department in a Dec. 4 statement said the “U.S. This was his second wave-off. This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. He spoke briefly with A2C Roy Boudreaux, one of the three airmen with whom he shared a cubicle in a Quonset hut. What the detachment there flew was the HH-43F Huskie-known everywhere as “Pedro”-the small utility helicopter that hovered over the runway, prepared for fire suppression, when an airplane landed with a gear malfunction, a warning light, or some other problem or emergency. Technology that might help—including a digital “license plate” for satellites—was showcased in the latest competition hosted by the Space Force Accelerator Program. ; On Dec. 8, 2000, the AFC was upgraded to a Medal of Honor. Additionally, Pitsenbarger was posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. On the ground, he organized and coordinated rescue efforts, cared for the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. “I was the pararescueman on the first chopper. I set about helping the wounded and evacuating them on the chopper. “I had been wounded before Pitsenbarger arrived on the scene,” said Army Sgt. The survivors recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but it was downgraded to the Air Force Cross. He was frozen with fear, unable to move. He liked country music, loved to hear Roy Acuff sing ‘The Wabash Cannonball,’ liked a beer, had a healthy interest in girls. Aquilino would take command of the Defense Department’s “priority theater” as…. William H. Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966.After review, the original award was upgraded and on Dec. 8, 2000, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family in a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Museum. Bill had been shot four times. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 – April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who gave his life aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault in Vietnam. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. Beneath that, thick brush grew from the ground to about 30 feet up, but there was a hole in the canopy just large enough for a Stokes litter-essentially a wire basket-to get through. The Stokes litter tore through the jungle and fell into some trees. That award is the military's second-highest for service members, and the highest award the Air Force can bestow. Bravo Company was well off to the left flank, and the jungle was so thick that it took an hour to hack out 100 yards of single-file trail. “I maneuvered the helicopter into the pickup hole as Hammond strapped Pits onto the penetrator and disconnected his mike cord. “Bill Pitsenbarger was an ordinary man,” O’Beirne said later. U.S. Air Force Airmen First Class - William H. Pitsenbarger was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor for military valor during the Vietnam War. “Pits had a big grin on his face. “I observed him several more times during the course of the day. It was a struggle to get the soldier aboard. is not withdrawing or disengaging from Africa. William "Pits" Pitsenbarger flew in helicopter rescue missions to treat and evacuate wounded soldiers and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions near Cam My, Vietnam in 1966. He had also been to Air Force “tree jump” school, training that included three parachute jumps into a forest, wearing tree jumping suits. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. “We were getting pounded so bad that I could only lie on the ground for cover. Air Force's Bill Pitsenbarger died in Vietnam defending a unit of soldiers. “I can show those guys how to rig the Stokes litter and load it right. Among those providing letters of support were seven of the surviving members of Charlie Company, including two of the four platoon leaders. “We got an urgent message to get back out to Binh Ba,” O’Beirne said. Pitsenbarger was 21 years old at the time of his death and was an Airman 1st Class. I took my last glimpse of Pits as Hammond swung him out of the cabin. “Hammond was now frantically motioning to Pits to get him to try and grab onto the Stokes litter, but Pits continued to give Hammond the wave-off and appeared to be hollering for us to get the hell out of there. “Hammond spotted Pits,” Salem said. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an ongoing firefight between elements of the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division and a sizeable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. The Nation Museum of the Air Force website states “He descended a hundred feet into the firefight with a medical bag, a supply of splints, a rifle and a pistol.” The litter had almost reached Pitsenbarger when the helicopter was raked by automatic weapons fire. These cookies do not store any personal information. He was the first Air Force enlisted man to be presented the second highest military award. Hammond removed some panels in the roof of the cabin and used a hammer to beat the fuel controls closed. His memory is also honored by the Air Force Association through our annual Pitsenbarger scholarship program. For that selfless act of heroism, Pits was awarded the highly regarded Airman's Medal by the United States Air Force. Dale Potter, regularly the other pilot on the crew, had gone to Saigon to pick up some litters. Capt. Pedro 97 lowered its litter, picked up the first casualty, then pulled back to transfer him from the Stokes litter to a folding litter. Here’s What the Air Force Can’t Get Rid Of, According to the Draft NDAA, Maintenance Issues Force B-52 to Divert During Bomber Task Force Mission, Trump Orders Pentagon to Withdraw Most Forces from Somalia, U.S. Approved More than $175 Billion in Weapons Sales in 2020, ‘License Plates’ for Satellites Among Tech Showcased in New Space Force Accelerator, Congress Won’t Impose Naval Ranks on the Space Force, Virtual Events: Guastella on Mitchell’s ‘Aerospace Nation,’ and More, House, Senate Reach Bipartisan Agreement on Massive Defense Policy Bill, Trump Nominates Aquilino to Lead INDOPACOM. He had seen combat in both World War II and Korea. Pedro 73 was out of commission. Pitsenbarger had five oak leaf clusters to his Air Medal, each representing 25 flights over hostile territory, and more clusters were pending. Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters presented the award, which was accepted by William F. Pitsenbarger on his son’s behalf. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His fellow PJs and others never gave up on their appeal to have his award upgraded to the Medal of Honor. If confirmed by the Senate, Aquilino—who has led U.S. Pacific Fleet since May 2018—will replace Admiral Philip S. Davidson. Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. “He just did extraordinary things when called upon to do so. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. We could hear enemy fire down below, but Pits was ignoring it and kept motioning for us to continue lowering the Stokes litter.”. With that many wounded to bring out, two helicopters would go. 19. The nearest clearing where the Army could land a Huey medevac helicopter was four miles away, so as the casualties began to mount, a call went to Det. Without any hesitation, Pits elected to stay on the ground with the wounded.”. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind on the ground to perform medical duties. He had been in Vietnam for eight months. To put down on paper what that battle was like is an impossible task. The helicopter limped to a landing at Binh Ba, but the engine could not be shut down by either normal or emergency procedures. He was holding his medical kit, his M-16 rifle, and an armful of splints. After several pick-ups, one of the two rescue helicopters involved in the evacuation was struck by heavy enemy ground fire and was forced to leave the scene for an emergency landing. The PJ on the flight that went out from Bien Hoa the morning of April 12 was A1C Harry O’Beirne, who lived in the same cubicle as Pits. However, there was a place where the trees topped out at 100 feet. Finally, the rotor RPM began to increase and stopped our descent. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. Thanks to the efforts of a handful of key people including Air Force Secretary F. Whitten Peters, and awards official Joe Linebarger, a presentation of the Medal of Honor was made on December 8, 2000 – and I attended. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day was recovered, Airman Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get more wounded soldiers to safety. After 34 years, Pitsenbarger’s heroic actions had finally received full recognition. “For Airman Pitsenbarger to expose himself, on three separate occasions, to this enemy fire was certainly above and beyond the call of duty of any man. He had not yet completed his first enlistment in the Air Force. Salem applied full right rudder to correct the yaw, but he had no control over the engine. Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. “I felt at the time, and still do, that Bill Pitsenbarger is one of the bravest men I have ever known,” wrote former lieutenant Johnny Libs. Pedro 73 moved into the hole and made the next pickup, but it did not go smoothly. Bachman maneuvered the first helicopter, Pedro 97, into place. With the concurrence of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the recommendation became part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act as approved by Congress and signed into law by the President on Oct. 30. It was on these occasions that I saw Airman Pitsenbarger moving around and pulling wounded men out of the line of fire and then bandaging their wounds. In the vicious fighting that followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and Airman Pitsenbarger was fatally wounded. As the day wore on, the unevenness of the terrain led Charlie Company away from the other two. The Pentagon went along with MACV. It took tremendous courage to expose himself to the possibility of an almost certain death in order to save the life of someone he didn’t even know.”. He planned to leave the Air Force when his hitch was up. The government of South Vietnam awarded him Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. Upon further review in the 1990s, a number of private citizens and federal officials successfully advocated that the Medal of Honor would more accurately characterize Pitsenbarger… Pedro 73 moved into the hole in the jungle canopy for the next pickup. On Dec. 8, 2000, the Medal of Honor was presented posthumously to A1C William H. Pitsenbarger in a ceremony at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, not far from his hometown of Piqua. In the late afternoon of April 11, the VC battalion intensified the attack with mortars and machine guns. The first rescue helicopter, Pedro 97, flown by Capt. During the night, word came that Pitsenbarger and more Army casualties had been moved to an area where a landing zone would be cleared the next morning and that Army helicopters would bring them out at first light. Between them, the two helicopters had made a total of five flights into and out of the battle area and had flown nine wounded soldiers to Binh Ba. Charlie Company had 134 troops. “I first saw Airman Pitsenbarger when he was being lowered from an Air Force helicopter sent to medevac our wounded,” Kroah said. “An Army captain passing, stopped me and told me that he was sorry but my buddy had been killed. That legacy lives on in the new feature film, “The Last Full Measure,” which tells the story of the U.S. Air Force Pararescueman awarded the country’s highest military honor, the medal of honor, 34 years after his supreme sacrifice. Pitsenbarger had been hit in the back, shoulder, and thigh but had kept working and fighting until the fatal round struck him in the head. He was killed shortly thereafter.”. In March 1966, Pitsenbarger had descended from a helicopter into a burning minefield to rescue a Vietnamese solider who had stepped on a land mine. And the struggle to tell that Vietnam War story in a movie took nearly 20 years more. The situation on the ground was described by 1st Lt. Martin Kroah, leader of Charlie Company’s 3rd Platoon. Hopefully, some of the wounded could be sent up on the forest penetrator, which was much faster but certainly couldn’t be used for hoisting the critically wounded.”. “We had no direct communications with the people below, except through hand signals,” Salem said. Of the 134 men who went into the jungle that day, all except 28 would be either wounded or killed before the battle was over. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. Total Medals of Honor Awarded. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. The US 1st Infantry Division was pushing through the dense jungle east of Saigon in search of the Viet Cong battalion known as D-800. Air Force Magazine is the official publication of the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198. 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