"Lower me down on the penetrator (a rudimentary seatlowered by cable from a hovering helicopter) and I'll straddle the guy. Shortly after rescue efforts were interrupted, the area came under heavy sniper and mortar fire. For the next hour and a half, Pitsenbarger tended to the wounded soldiers, hacking splints out of snarled vines and building improvised stretchers out of saplings. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. They forbade it, but after graduating in 1962 he enlisted in the Air Force. Even as the enemy fire continued to scorch the area, he moved among the casualties to tend the wounded and administer life-saving medical attention. Gallant, they were true. May 2, 1928 - August 21, 2021. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. For the first time, the senior Pitsenbarger began to worry about the risks inherent in his son's military specialty. The selfless words, "That Others May Live," fueled every movement that Pitsenbarger made throughout the ferocious struggle and would enshrine his name among the pantheon of immortal American heroes. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Edit Search New Search. He. Jane Pitsenbarger passed away at age 82 years old on April 10, 1997. At times, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand. Make sure that the file is a photo. On the last afternoon of the year, New Year's Eve 1962, William Pitsenbarger broke the news to his parents. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Virginia, to William Pitsenbarger and Mary "Polly" Pitsenbarger (born Amick). He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. The stokes litter dragged through the trees as Captain Salem fought for control. 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. The Last Full Measure is about real-life Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger who tragically died at the age of 21 during a rescue mission in 1966 after saving countless lives during the war. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. How bad was it on the ground? 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. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Ohio Miami County Covington Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. As the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to land, the enemy attacked with mortars and machinegun fire. 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. Arrangements by Seals-Campbell Funeral Home, 815-795-5151, www.sealscampbell.com Published. William Pitsenbarger's Background A1C Pitsenbarger, an Ohio native, is one of three Medal of Honor Recipients from Piqua, Ohio. It was like walking into a whole new world, a world separated from their small hometown of Piqua, Ohio by more than miles. A pararescueman, Pitsenbarger saved lives in an example of selfless heroism worthy of the Medal of Honor. All Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016 results for Pitsenbarger. San Francisco television stations covered the rescue on the evening news.. Without their PJ aboard, the chopper could only carry out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba. 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 trained with members of the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia to earn his jump wings. On April 11, 1966, in thick jungle near Saigon, an infantry company on 134 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division (the "Big Red One") was . Surviving is a son, Richter "Rick" James Pitsenbarger of St. Albans, West Virginia; a sister, Agnes Hodge (Sammy) of Hot Springs, Virginia. He noticed the stokes litter caught high in the jungle canopy. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. - Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.) Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? He is the sixth enlisted airman to receive the Medal of Honor. Another Viet Cong bullet hit the intrepid soldier in the leg. It would be best if she did not know that her only son would be performing some of the most dangerous missions faced by any young man in a combat zone. After six wounded men had been flown to an aid station, the two U.S. Air Force helicopters returned for their second load. Try again later. Locating one highly effective enemy sniper, Robinson used a grenade launcher to end the threat. It is next to the Piqua Veterans Memorial. Iowa Death Records, 1904-1942 from FamilySearch/free with registration; includes images of the death certificates Artie Eugene Grose Obituary. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. 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. William Pitsenbarger was dead. William Pitsenbarger loved his job. said Haley, one of the few survivors. His decisions were deliberate, calculated, and carried out with the highest degree of professionalism. This is a carousel with slides. In his first eight months in Vietnam, he went on 250 rescue missions. He was wounded twice. 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. 0 cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA. He served as a member of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa, near Saigon. Prohibited Items: Sergeant Robinson believed strongly in the U.S. role in Vietnam, telling his father in one letter: "There's a world on fire and we should do something about it." for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Cam My, April 11, 1966: 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm, Republic of Vietnam Medal of Military Merit, Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron, National Museum of the United States Air Force, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War, "William H. Pitsenbarger: Bravest Among the Brave Vietnam War Veteran", "Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger", "Sebastian Stan and all-star cast elevate the heroism of 'The Last Full Measure', "Vietnam War Period Medal of Honor recipients", United States Army Center of Military History, Wright Patterson Air Force Base Skywrighter, "William H. Pitsenbarger: A Hero of Piqua and America", "Pitsenbarger's memorial page on The Virtual Wall", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_H._Pitsenbarger&oldid=1134674290, This page was last edited on 19 January 2023, at 23:17. Upon reaching the site of the ambush, he was lowered through the trees to the ground where he attended to the wounded before having them lifted to the helicopter by cable. 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. Mr. Pitsenbarger graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. 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. - Coolers But both were proud." June 17, 1934 - October 5, 2022 Obituary FRANKFORD, WV - Anna Mae Pitsenbarger, 88 of Frankford, WV passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at GVMC surrounded by her family. [11][12] The wire stretchers, however, kept getting caught in the jungle trees. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. She was born October 28, 1929 in Moyers, WV a daughter of the late Lona (Rexrode) and Frank Simmons. Jim Locker (Sidney) and A1C James Pielman (Russia). - Diaper bags Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Ignoring the pain, he dragged the wounded man to shelter, administered lifesaving first aid, and then treated his own serious wounds. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. Four years after William Pitsenbarger's death, Airman First Class John Lee Levitow became the first and only enlisted airman to receive our Nation's highest military award. In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. Captain Ronald Bachman piloted the primary HH-43, call sign "Pedro 97". He volunteered to ride a hoist over 100 feet through the jungle and to the jungle floor. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. He never complained and had a great sense of humor and tendency to clown around when things were quiet. In the hour and a half Pits was on the ground, he was everywhere. Like nothing could hurt him. 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 the ground, things had gone from bad to worse. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies of the First Infantry's 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry (2/16th) were seeking elements of a 400-man Viet Cong battalion. Lenie A Pitsenbarger Lenie A. Pitsenbarger, 48, of Mentor, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby. His experience expedited the process of getting the wounded soldier into the stokes litter and a fourth casualty was being hauled skyward. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other
After several wounded were raised up to the helicopters, one of the helicopters was struck by gunfire and had to leave to make an emergency landing away from the battle area. The helicopter was forced to abandon recovery efforts to make an emergency landing at a nearby airstrip. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Son of John Walter Pitsenbarger and Freda Blanche Pitsenbarger 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. Shirley A. Pitsenbarger age 90, of Versailles passed away at 9:16 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at her residence. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. William F Pitsenbarger in 1940 United States Federal Census William F Pitsenbarger Added 2020-10-15 10:59:16 -0700 by Pamela Anne Schuwerk Mittman Stigall During his short life, Thiago was surrounded by the love of his family. 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. A system error has occurred. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. William Pitsenbarger. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." 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. As the survivors hacked through the jungle vegetation, they did not realize they were only yards from their primary objectivethe command post of the Viet Cong BattalionOperation Abilenesought to find and destroy. "Pits," as he was known to friends, had been killed in action five months earlier. Weapons, https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations. Army Staff Sergeant James Robinson was submitted for the Medal of Honor for his heroic sacrifice duringOperation Abilene. 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. He wanted to enlist in the Army when he was junior high, but his parents did not allow him. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Despite the continuing enemy fire, he climbed the trees to salvage the litter and make it ready for the choppers' return. Pitsenbarger, an airman 1st class at the time, originally was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1966. "After a while," Nolen said, "heavy fire started coming in. For those whose lives he touched, he will never be forgotten. was aretha franklin at the harlem cultural festival? Since the litter was already outside the helicopter, Hammond placed the penetrator inside the stokes and began lowering both. He attended the Navy's underwater swimmers school. The Viet Cong withdrew and we called in artillery fire. When the company was ordered to move a short distance, the intrepid Airman began cutting branches to improvise litters to transport the wounded. ). They hauled out about a dozen of our wounded. Obituary Henry Mahlon Pitsenbarger, Jr., 88, a resident of Pendleton Manor, Franklin, WV, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. 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. His rifle empty, Sergeant Robinson again ignored his wounds to attack. Please reset your password. 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. After review and nearly 35 years later, the original award was upgraded.[4][7]. It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. Pits, as the Airman from Piqua, Ohio came to be called, was a happy and likable young man. Edit Search New Search. Arvella M. "Sis" Pitsenbarger, age 88, of Franklin, WV, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Pendleton Manor in Franklin, WV. In 1945, in the era of the U.S. Army Air Forces, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress crewman, Henry Erwin, was awarded the medal for saving his crew and aircraft on a bombing run over Japan. William H. Pitsenbarger is killed in action. Meanwhile, Alpha and Bravo Companies poised themselves for a rescue attempt at daylight. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. By. As Captain Salem headed towards the aid station, Pedro 97 moved in to hover over the battlefield. While patching up his broken body he noticed the location of an enemy machinegun that had been inflicting heavy casualties on his unit. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. 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. 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. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. There was an error deleting this problem. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home . According to Pitsenbargers Medal of Honor biography, Pitsenbarger reacted instantly with confidence and courage, charging toward the bear and yelling as if enraged. 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. Detachment 6 flew three HH-43F Huskie helicopters, which recovered downed airmen and injured ground troops. As Salem fought to save his Huskie, his departure left the valiant PJ stranded on the ground with Sergeant Navarro, Lieutenant Libs, and the few survivors of Charlie Company. [5] His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. 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. Try again later. In this first part of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, we took quite a few casualties. Retha Mae (Simmons) Pitsenbarger, 90, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at Pendleton Manor. She was born May 8, 1931, in Moyers, W.Va., a daughter of the late Benjamin Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. Henry Pitsenbarger, . "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. Not only had he chosen to serve his country in uniform, but he had also chosen to serve among some of the most elite. We moved into a perimeter. In the distance, he could see an Army medic kneeling to bandage the wounds of a wounded American infantryman. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Doctors determined that Dick Rynearson had suffered a broken upper left rib and a shattered sternum. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Try again. He loved to help and bless anybody he could. The historical marker is on Route 48, north of Covington. Ambulatory casualties could be hoisted to the waiting choppers on "jungle penetrators". The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. Little did he know how expensive that price was about to become. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. 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. Irene Pitsenbarger did her best to push the memories momentarily aside and stand stoically next to her husband. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. Notice:Visitors may be filmed, photographed or recorded by the U.S. Air Force for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on public websites and social media. - Service animals The power and rpm shot over the red lines and the helicopter lurched forward and upout of control. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Mr. Pitsenbarger was a member of St. Paul Independent Lutheran Church. There is a problem with your email/password. With the three-seat penetrator, a PJ could send up three wounded, then ride back up to his Huskie with two more wounded on a second lift. Suddenly we started receiving fire from all around. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. Sorry! - Knives The elder Pitsenbarger gratefully accepted the award on behalf of his only son. He was the first airman to receive the honor and continues to be remembered for risking his life to save the lives of others. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 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. IN THE CARE OF. It was Spring 1966, during a rescue mission that Pitsenbarger was offered the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavily under fire, but he chose to stay behind to save and defend the lives of his fellow soldiers before making the ultimate sacrifice in the bloodiest battle of the war. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Weve updated the security on the site. Indeed, after escorting the badly damaged Pedro 73 to an emergency landing, Captain Bachman and his team returned. 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. Father of William Hart Pitsenbarger 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. Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. He loved to go to concerts and watch fireworks. In the years that followed the 1966 presentation of the Air Force Cross to Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger just five months after the death of their son, the name WilliamPitsPitsenbarger became synonymous with the proud traditions of sacrifice and service of the Air Force Pararescuemen. Go to concerts and watch fireworks was totally ineffective convinced him to finish studies... Passed away at age 82 years old on April 10, 1997 suffered! From FamilySearch/free with registration ; includes images of the 38th Aerospace rescue recovery... Was assigned to the waiting choppers on `` jungle penetrators '' Army Sergeant... And carried out with the highest degree of professionalism 48, north of Covington Army when he everywhere... Helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be hoisted to the waiting choppers on `` jungle ''! Out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba casualty, the Americans fought enemy! 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