There are no volunteers for this cemetery. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Arvella M. Pitsenbarger. 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 Air Force basic training, the young airman had continued to push the envelope and expand his thirst for adventure. His decisions were deliberate, calculated, and carried out with the highest degree of professionalism. based on information from your browser. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Ohio Miami County Covington PIQUA Thursday evening was the homecoming celebration William H. Pitsenbarger never got after his sacrifices during the Vietnam War. - Food and Soda Drinks Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. When the young PJs feet touched the ground, he went into immediate action. Try again later. At least nine rounds hit the aircraft, one of them tearing through the wiring and causing the throttle control to jam at full throttle. 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. The historical marker is on Route 48, north of Covington. Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to remain on the ground and administer medical treatment to the wounded. Navarro himself was wounded. Failed to report flower. The father shed tears. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. Next to him, all was quiet. Arrangements by Seals-Campbell Funeral Home, 815-795-5151, www.sealscampbell.com Published. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. His rifle empty, Sergeant Robinson again ignored his wounds to attack. IN THE CARE OF. The enemy fire reached out to tear flesh and the medic fell to the ground. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. How bad was it on the ground? Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. After six wounded men had been flown to an aid station, the two U.S. Air Force helicopters returned for their second load. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. He was wounded twice. Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters presented the award, which was accepted by William F. Pitsenbarger on his son's behalf. On April 11, 1966, his day off, he volunteered to board one of two Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters dispatched to extract a half-dozen or so wounded soldiers pinned down in a firefight near Cam My, a rural area of Vietnam located 35 miles east of Saigon. 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. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . 0 cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA. 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. Finding one wounded infantryman, injured beyond the ability to fire a rifle, Pits gave the soldier his own pistol to enable him to continue to resist. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27881350/william-franklin-pitsenbarger. There was an error deleting this problem. 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 Their sonthat's what this was all about. William Nolen of Florence, S.C. described how the battle involving his "Big Red One" troops developed. 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. Father of William Hart Pitsenbarger 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 first explosion came from American artillery fired in support ofOperation Abilene. Coverage may vary by county. Plant a tree in memory of Lenie An environmentally friendly option Plant a tree 1 tree planted in memory of Lenie A Pitsenbarger. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. Two helicopters with pararescue personnel were sent to rescue the trapped soldiers, but the helicopter pilots could not land in the aircraft in the jungle. OBITUARY Floyd "Bear" Pitsenbarger October 5, 1931 - January 2, 2017. Quickly the attack escalated to intense mortar and machinegun fire throughout the entire area. 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. William Pitsenbarger was dead. The drill team of the AFJROTC unit at Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg WV is known as the Pitsenbarger Rifles. This browser does not support getting your location. [3] Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966. A pararescueman, Pitsenbarger saved lives in an example of selfless heroism worthy of the Medal of Honor. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. In his first eight months in Vietnam, he went on 250 rescue missions. MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION. (U.S. Air Force photo). William H. Pitsenbarger is killed in action. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com. Jim Locker (Sidney) and A1C James Pielman (Russia). He had been in combat in both World War II and Korea.". The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. Reports say that watching soldiers were stunned when they saw Pitsenbarger being lowered to the ground. Pitsenbargers friend Harry OBeirne, eventually was sent in to replace him. She was born October 28, 1929 in Moyers, WV a daughter of the late Lona (Rexrode) and Frank Simmons. He had enlisted in the Air Force and would soon be boarding a train for San Antonio to begin his training. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. An Air Force rescue helicopter came over and lowered a ladder. In one lifeless hand Pits still held his M-16 rifle. He was frozen with fear, unable to move. "Lower me down on the penetrator (a rudimentary seatlowered by cable from a hovering helicopter) and I'll straddle the guy. Sporadic rounds continued to whistle through the air around Sergeant Navarro, but with the encroaching darkness, there was coming an eerie quiet as well. Time and again these brave medics had been inserted to save lives. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. On the ground, Pits signaled for the penetrator. Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters. How soon? Pitsenbarger stayed on the ground to medically care for the remaining wounded. Oops, something didn't work. At noon sniper fire began. An Army general recommended that the award be downgraded to the Air Force Cross, apparently because at the time there was not enough documentation of Pitsenbarger's actions. Husband of Alice Mae Konz Pitsenbarger and Irene Emma Littleton Pitsenbarger Detachment 6 flew three HH-43F Huskie helicopters, which recovered downed airmen and injured ground troops. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. When its engine began to lose power, the pilot realized he had to get the helicopter away from the area as soon as possible. [5] His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. The choppers hovered above the desperate American forces. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He continued to work as a stock boy at the local Kroger supermarket, all the while thirsting for more adventure. Rushing forward to rescue the wounded man, enemy rounds slammed into Robinson's shoulder and leg. He volunteered to ride a hoist over 100 feet through the jungle and to the jungle floor. Thanks for your help! No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. At times, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand. 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.