His pararescue training was put to the test soon after arriving at Hamilton Air Force Base. On December 8, 2000, an impressive ceremony was held at Wright-Patterson AFB in Pits' home state of Ohio. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. With heavy mortar and small-arms fire, the helicopters could not return to rescue Pitsenbarger. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. When the young PJs feet touched the ground, he went into immediate action. Time and again he has faced enemy fire, stared death in the face and calmly set himself to the tasks of a Pararescue medic. ", Pitsenbarger completed more than 250 missions, including one in which he hung from an HH-43's cable to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier from a burning minefield. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. 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 Try again later. He even gave away his own pistol, and did have a firearm to return enemy fire. The guest list included combat veterans, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a Congressional representative, and the Air Force Chief of Staff. William McDaniel II of Greenville, Ohio; and Airman 1st Class James Pleiman of Russia, Ohio. While there, it was the Air Force recruiter who captured the young man's attention. william schur regis grandson Home Uncategorized maryse burgot qui est son mari February 22, 2023 Off doctors accepting new patients in cambridge, ontario , Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Few witnesses remained of the young PJs service and sacrifice. But the choice to "go in" was always a voluntary call, made the PJs themselves. Born June 17, 1934, in Frankford, WV, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Flora Mae Loudermilk Yates. In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. The government of South Vietnam awarded him Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. Ambulatory casualties could be hoisted to the waiting choppers on "jungle penetrators". Not only had he chosen to serve his country in uniform, but he had also chosen to serve among some of the most elite. Resend Activation Email. Pick him up, and then you can lift me up." His final training was in air crash rescue and firefighting. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Arvella M. "Sis" Pitsenbarger, age 88, of Franklin, WV, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Pendleton Manor in Franklin, WV. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. Pits expected the Air Force Huskies, or at least Pedro 97, to return for more wounded. It was like walking into a whole new world, a world separated from their small hometown of Piqua, Ohio by more than miles. NEW WESTON Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93, of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021, at 12:10 a.m., at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. O'Berne replied that he was. - Diaper bags Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 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. Olly Richards NME. We moved into a perimeter. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC 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. She was born May 8, 1931, in Moyers, W.Va., a daughter of the late Benjamin Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. The roadway honors four local USAF Pararescuemen who died in battle. 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. For nearly a month the officer and his two medics had treated the injured while leading them to rescue. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. Then, over the cries of the wounded, he heard the sound of a returning rescue helicopter. Mr. Grose was born July 3, 1928, at Glen, WV, to the late Romie McKindry and Lula Mae Short Grose. Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. [8] During the same ceremony he was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff sergeant. One hundred eighty American soldiers on patrol had come upon a much larger force of Viet Cong in a dense jungle area. 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. While still in high school, he wanted to join the U.S. Army Special Forces ("The Green Berets"), but his parents, Irene and William Frank Pitsenbarger forbade it. Obituary Henry Mahlon Pitsenbarger, Jr., 88, a resident of Pendleton Manor, Franklin, WV, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. But the Huskies had a unique advantage. 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. Captain Ronald Bachman piloted the primary HH-43, call sign "Pedro 97". 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. The frightened bear performed an about-face and fled. Two Air Force Huskies were quickly airborne and moving east to find and extract the wounded soldiers of Charlie Company. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. Air Force buildings were named for him, and the Air Force Sergeants Association introduced an annual award for valor in honor of the heroic actions reflected in his award citation. Gallant, they were true. He was preceded in death by his wife Mable, October 8, 2005. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. 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. Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning uniform from his body and continued forward. In the other, he still clutched his medical kit. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. 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. During the brightest day, soldiers moving acrossthe jungle floor can almost feel that they are moving about at night. Only two members of Sergeant Navarro's 10-man squad had survived. An adventurer since boyhood, his greatest thrill had always been the opportunity to save lives. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. In the quiet dignity of the halls of the Pentagon, the senior Pitsenbarger remembered how proud he had been of his son. "It was horrible," said Pfc Ronald Haley, as he stood in the tiny clearing blasted from the jungle so that the dead and wounded could be evacuated. Geni requires JavaScript! - Camera bags [6], Soon after Pitsenbarger was killed, his Air Force commanders nominated him for the Medal of Honor. 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 As the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to land, the enemy attacked with mortars and machinegun fire. After review and nearly 35 years later, the original award was upgraded.[4][7]. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Joseph E. Pitsenbarger of Troy, Ohio, who passed away at the age of 66, on January 6, 2022. He volunteered to ride a hoist over 100 feet through the jungle and to the jungle floor. https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, The highway runs near the hometowns of four pararescuemen who died in service to their country. - Purses cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27881350/william-franklin-pitsenbarger. This electronic book is available for free download and printing from www.homeofheroes.com. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. 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. They found the hunters and began to cut a trail down the mountain. Meanwhile, Alpha and Bravo Companies poised themselves for a rescue attempt at daylight. Virginia, to William Pitsenbarger and Mary "Polly" Pitsenbarger (born Amick). There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Just one month prior to the Easter Sunday beginning ofOperation Abilene, Major Bernard Francis Fisher became the first person to earn the newly designed Air Force Medal of Honor. Pitsenbarger was killed by Viet Cong snipers later that night. 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. The firefight was at Cam My, in the Republic of Vietnam, about 35 miles east of Saigon. No sane man could live through such a nightmare without such emotion. ). cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. They forbade it, but after graduating in 1962 he enlisted in the Air Force. Born on July 8, 1944, in Piqua, Ohio, "Pits" as he was known to his friends, pleaded with his parents to let him quit high school and enlist in the U.S. Army's Green Berets. OperationAbilenebegan on April 10, 1966Easter Sunday. [3] Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966. Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. ), Pitsenbarger decided that he could speed things up if he could get to the ground. Without their PJ aboard, the chopper could only carry out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Brother of Frances Winifred McMaster and Loren Elwood Pitsenbarger. Arvella M. Pitsenbarger. (During the Korean War, four Air Force pilots were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor but all received the Army design for the award.). By. 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. After unloading at Binh Ba, Pedro 73 diverted to refuel while Captain Bachman and Pedro 97 returned for the fifth pick-up of the day. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. IN THE CARE OF. Nearby Lieutenant Johnny Libs was doing his best to bring some semblance of order to what remained of his platoon. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. 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. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." So thick is the top layer, often rising over 150 feet upwards, that sunlight never reaches the vegetation at ground level. one moves westward towards Saigon. There is a problem with your email/password. Jane L Pitsenbarger of Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born on March 15, 1915. On April 11, 1966, three rifle companies from 1st Infantry Division - also known as the " Big Red One " - were sent to fight the Viet Cong . 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." The enemy fire reached out to tear flesh and the medic fell to the ground. But what made the young pararescueman from Piqua, Ohio stand out was how he dealt with fear. When a wounded man had been properly strapped inside the litter, he could then be winched up into the Huskie where Pararescue medics like William Pitsenbarger waited to administer lifesaving first aid during the flight to a field hospital. He continued to work as a stock boy at the local Kroger supermarket, all the while thirsting for more adventure. Then, as the Huskie lifted off, O'Berne remained on the ground to treat wounded and load them on the Army Chinook. He. 1928 - 2017. Normally the unit consisted of 291 men but, going intoOperation Abilene, company strength was down to 134 soldiers. He was born. His only remark when the call for help arrived had been, "I have a bad feeling about this mission." This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. A native of rural Piqua, Ohio, Pitsenbarger saw the first light of life on July 8, 1944. Weve updated the security on the site. You may print and distribute in quantity for all non-profit, educational purposes. Slowly, O'Berne approached to gently lift the poncho. 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. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. "After a while," Nolen said, "heavy fire started coming in. File: Medal of Honor presented to William H. Pitsenbarger's parents 2000-12-08.jpg. based on information from your browser. 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. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In February 2005, Senate Bill 156 designated State Route 48 as the USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway. . Along with the being the recipient of the Medal of Honor (posthumously) he has been honored several times. Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. 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. They tried to leave the area, but they were attacked by the large Viet Cong force. His bravery and determination int he faces of overwhelming odds are in keeping with the highest standards of performance and traditions of the American fighting man under attack.". On April 11, 1966, the Joint Rescue Center dispatched two Huskies from Detachment 6 to extract a half-dozen or more Army casualties pinned down in a battle near Cam My, 35 miles (56km) east of Saigon. Instead of climbing into the litter basket so he could leave with the helicopter, Pitsenbarger elected to remain with the Army troops under enemy attack and he gave a "wave-off" to the helicopter which flew away to safety. Airman 1st Class Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native and graduate of Piqua schools, was a pararescue and medical specialist who died April 11, 1966, in Vietnam. Calming their uneasiness and fighting to overcome the emotions that struggled for release, the brave couple found themselves being introduced to the US Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. McConnell. Arnold M Pitsenbarger: Abt 1930: These men were now cut off from Able and Bravo companies and were surrounded by 400 or more enemy soldiers. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. At six feet, three inches tall he was an inspiring sight for the beleaguered men of his platoon. 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. A marker honoring the men is along State Route 48 just north of Covington. It was erected by the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Historical Society. The ceremony was so important that top military officials came from Washington, D.C. to attend. 1 OBITUARY INDEX PROJECT Entry citation Last name, first name I . In this first part of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, we took quite a few casualties. Every fifteen seconds from 8:30 Monday evening until 7:00 A.M. Tuesday morning, five or six rounds of artillery fell within 25 meters of the small perimeter to keep the enemy at bay. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. 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. He examined Pitsenbargers body and found that he had four wounds. But Bill (Pitsenbarger) had a triple dose of that.". This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Alert and always ready to go on any mission. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. The helicopter was forced to abandon recovery efforts to make an emergency landing at a nearby airstrip. Even without looking the young infantry sergeant knew what had happened. 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.. Of those nineteen awards, ten were awarded to Pararescuemen. better known as PJs. Pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger flew more than 250 rescue missions during the Vietnam War. More Air Force rescue training and jungle survival school followed. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. Mr. Pitsenbarger was a member of St. Paul Independent Lutheran Church. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. In the darkness of the early morning, Army Engineers slipped into the jungle to clear a landing place for the helicopters that would come with the dawn to extract the survivors and the bodies of the dead. It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. Pitsenbarger was in his element in Vietnam. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 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. Pitsenbarger, an airman 1st class at the time, originally was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1966. 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. The Air Force Huskies could hover over the last layers of the jungle foliage and winch a wire-mesh Stokes Litterto those on the ground. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . In the distance, he could see an Army medic kneeling to bandage the wounds of a wounded American infantryman. The choppers hovered above the desperate American forces. He was born on May 18, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Eau Claire, the son of Ronald Pitsenbarger, Jr. and Ann (Moyer) Nelson. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 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. His experience expedited the process of getting the wounded soldier into the stokes litter and a fourth casualty was being hauled skyward. 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.". 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. The decoration was upgraded to. While the three initial recovered casualties were unloaded, Pits and Pedro 97's PJ Sergeant David Milsten discussed "going in" on the choppers' return. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended the ceremony. In addition several buildings have been named in his honor including William H. Pitsenbarger Dining Hall, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; William H. Pitsenbarger Professional Military Education Center, Beale Air Force Base, California; William H. Pitsenbarger Airman Leadership School, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; Pitsenbarger Hall, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas and Pitsenbarger Fitness Center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. 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. His commander, Major Maurice Kessler, called him "One of a special breed. She was born on June 14, 1932, in Franklin, WV, the daughter of the late Arthur J. and Ida Mae (Propst) Lambert. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. Pitsenbarger stayed on the ground to medically care for the remaining wounded. William Nolen of Florence, S.C. described how the battle involving his "Big Red One" troops developed. Permitted Items: Time and again, as was not uncommon among any of the dedicated PJs, Pits had made the ascent from the relative shelter of his hovering Huskie to the jungle floor to render immediate first aid to wounded and then strap them into the lowered Stokes Litter. Pits' solution? Pedro 97 went in first, lowering the stokes litter to retrieve one of the wounded. PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. he attended the fire-fighters course for the HH-43 helicopter. Then Captain Bachman pulled back a short distance to transfer the patient to a folding litter while Pedro 73 went in to pick up a second wounded soldier. From above, Airman Pitsenbarger watched them struggle with the apparatus. 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. As a junior in high school, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, but his parents refused to give their permission. DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. Their only son, Pararescue-medic WilliamPitsPitsenbarger had just made historybecoming the first enlisted Airman in history to receive the Air Force Crossposthumously. 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 . The two Huskies then turned towards the field aid station 7 miles away near the village of Binh Ba. File; File history; File usage on Commons; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 525 pixels. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, W.Va., and formerly Moyers, W.Va., passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at Pendleton Manor. Over the months that followed William Pitsenbarger did his best to downplay the dangers of his job in his letters home. Since the litter was already outside the helicopter, Hammond placed the penetrator inside the stokes and began lowering both. Twelve members of the United States Air Force received Medals of Honor for heroic actions in Vietnam. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. The city of Piqua, Ohio, renamed a recreational park (which includes the municipal swimming pool) the "Pitsenbarger Sports Complex." His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force. How soon? Try again later. Standing to the side to witness the events that were about to unfold was Ohio Senator Frank Lausche. 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. 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. [citation needed] Although Pitsenbarger did not escape alive, 60 other men did. 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