Iowa Death Records, 1904-1942 from FamilySearch/free with registration; includes images of the death certificates The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Because of the thick, triple-canopy jungle, Army medevacs could not come in to retrieve the woundedthere was simply no place to land. Locating one highly effective enemy sniper, Robinson used a grenade launcher to end the threat. 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. 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. Please reset your password. - Backpacks For nearly a month the officer and his two medics had treated the injured while leading them to rescue. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. While there, it was the Air Force recruiter who captured the young man's attention. Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. OBeirne believes Pitsenbarger probably continued giving aid until he was hit the third or fourth time. Like nothing could hurt him. The elder Pitsenbarger gratefully accepted the award on behalf of his only son. Lenie A Pitsenbarger Lenie A. Pitsenbarger, 48, of Mentor, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby. Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. He was the first airman to receive the honor and continues to be remembered for risking his life to save the lives of others. Then, as the Huskie lifted off, O'Berne remained on the ground to treat wounded and load them on the Army Chinook. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute ammunition (from dead and wounded soldiers) to American defenders. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Sporadic sniper fire picked at the men of Charlie, 2/16th throughout the day, but no one could have predicted how intense the enemy fire would become as morning gave way to afternoon. 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.". Amid a flood of memories, an invocation by the Chief of the Air Force Chaplain Service, and remarks by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force the Honorable F. Whitten Peters stepped to the podium. 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 had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. 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 . In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. Shirley was born December 29, 1932, in Miami County to the late Milton & Edna (Niesley) Buckingham. 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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. It was nearing 7:30 in the evening as the enemy fire was beginning to taper off. 0 cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. After arriving on the scene, OBeirne learned of Pitsenbargers death. It was the Air Force Cross, our Nation's second-highest award for military valor by a member of the United States Air Force. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. 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. Some of the kids were calling for God." https://www.facebook.com/thelastfullmeasurefilm/ Army Staff Sergeant James Robinson was submitted for the Medal of Honor for his heroic sacrifice duringOperation Abilene. based on information from your browser. Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning uniform from his body and continued forward. Clarence William Pitsenbarger. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? - Strollers One must imagine William Pitsenbarger must have felt fear himself. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. In the quiet dignity of the halls of the Pentagon, the senior Pitsenbarger remembered how proud he had been of his son. On that day, the Medal of Honor was presented to William F. Pitsenbarger for the courageous military service of his deceased son, Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger, United States Air Force. His medical training had served him well, so well in fact, that he had applied to Arizona State University to study to become a medical technician or male nurse upon completion of his Air Force tour of duty a couple of months hence. He personally saved over sixty men. (U.S. Air Force photo). Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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 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." Pitsenbarger Medal of Honor Ceremony. He was frozen with fear, unable to move. Year should not be greater than current year. Geni requires JavaScript! "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. 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. Try again later. In the hour and a half Pits was on the ground, he was everywhere. The company, part of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Regiment was moving through the jungles northeast of Binh Gia on a routine-patrol. A 67-acre sports complex in Piqua has been named the Pitsenbarger Sports Complex (Pitsenbarger was a wrestler at Piqua Central High School), and two Ohio Historical Society markers tell his life story. Among other problems, he had also lost partial rudder control. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Sorry! A pararescueman, Pitsenbarger saved lives in an example of selfless heroism worthy of the Medal of Honor. His only remark when the call for help arrived had been, "I have a bad feeling about this mission." The PJ on board was one of the Pits' closest friends, Harry O'Berne. Olly Richards NME. Try again later. If you knew Lenie, you knew a man who loved the Lord and his family. Somehow, through sheer force of determination, he continued forwardfalling only after reaching an effective range and throwing the two grenades to destroy the enemy position. This is a carousel with slides. This electronic book is available for free download and printing from www.homeofheroes.com. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. He continued to work as a stock boy at the local Kroger supermarket, all the while thirsting for more adventure. OBITUARY Shirley A Pitsenbarger December 29, 1932 - February 8, 2023. 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. - Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.) It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. Heedless of the potential for disaster should the heavy prop wash of the Huskie's twin-blades detonate other mines in the field, Airman Pitsenbarger made the ascent, snatched the wounded soldier, and restored him to safety. 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. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. 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. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters. 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. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to those still alive. 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 "Dustoffs" could only retrieve wounded soldiers by landing on the grounda limitation all too common in the Southeast Asian war zone famous for dense, triple-canopy jungles. Indeed, after escorting the badly damaged Pedro 73 to an emergency landing, Captain Bachman and his team returned. The stokes litter dragged through the trees as Captain Salem fought for control. Portraits in Courage - William Pitsenbarger: Medal of Honor recipient Also attending was an elderly gentleman, now well into his 80sWilliam F. Pitsenbarger. One round fell short, detonating in the top of the jungle canopy and raining deadly shrapnel on Sergeant Robinson's 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. Artie Eugene Grose Obituary. 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. 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. January 24, 2020. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [5] His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Ignoring the pain, he dragged the wounded man to shelter, administered lifesaving first aid, and then treated his own serious wounds. And now, here at the Pentagon, Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger would receive one more award on behalf of their son. Lieutenant Libs strained his eyes against the unexpected sight. At least nine rounds hit the aircraft, one of them tearing through the wiring and causing the throttle control to jam at full throttle. Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -. Pits was born in Piqua, Ohio, on July 8, 1944. 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