William and Irene Pitsenbarger looked with reverence at the medal presented to them by General McConnell on behalf of their son. That done, Captain Bachman returned to use the stokes to pull one more wounded soldier from the field of battle. 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 . Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Pitsenbarger stayed on the ground to medically care for the remaining wounded. The helicopter was forced to abandon recovery efforts to make an emergency landing at a nearby airstrip. 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. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). There was an error deleting this problem. 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. "One of my boys picked up a grenade and charged one of the trees. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind, on the ground, to perform medical duties. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Edit Search New Search. He loved to help and bless anybody he could. Jane Pitsenbarger passed away at age 82 years old on April 10, 1997. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. Lieutenant Libs strained his eyes against the unexpected sight. Artie Eugene Grose Obituary. Yes, the elder Pitsenbarger was justly proud of his son. Navarro himself was wounded. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was a rescue and survival specialist aboard a helicopter engaged in the evacuating of American casualties in a dense jungle. The dragging litter threatened to snag in the foliage and bring Pedro 73 crashing to the ground. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force awarded its second-highest award, the Air Force Cross, to nineteen enlisted airmen. The power and rpm shot over the red lines and the helicopter lurched forward and upout of control. He was hit seven times before he was finally killed," he said. 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. In February 2005, Senate Bill 156 designated State Route 48 as the USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway. Some honors can be seen by the public. Here the jungle grows in layers, oftentriple-canopy(3-layers) of heavy vegetation. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. The decoration was upgraded to. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Army Sergeant Fred Navarro of Hutchins, Kansas was a squad leader in Charlie 2/16th. The company, part of the 2nd Battalion, 16th Regiment was moving through the jungles northeast of Binh Gia on a routine-patrol. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. In 2004, an Ohio Historical Society marker honoring Pitsenbarger was placed along Riverside Drive (State Route 66 at Broadway). The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. Arrangements by Seals-Campbell Funeral Home, 815-795-5151, www.sealscampbell.com Published. [citation needed] Although Pitsenbarger did not escape alive, 60 other men did. 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." Without their PJ aboard, the chopper could only carry out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba. One of the few survivors, Army Lieutenant Martin Kroah later said, "At times, the small; arms fire would be so intense that it was deafening, and all a person could do was get as close to the ground as possible and pray. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. After high school, he worked as a stockboy at a Kroger grocery store, but he left to join the U.S. Air . William F. Pitsenbarger will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf. 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. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. Then, over the cries of the wounded, he heard the sound of a returning rescue helicopter. William Pitsenbarger's story survived for more than three decades, making the young airman something of an Air Force legend. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. 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. Totally exposed at the end of the cable, enemy rounds sang past the gallant PJ as he voluntarily rode the penetrator into a nightmare beyond human comprehension. Realizing the two wounded men were dangerously exposed to continued enemy fire, Robinson ignored the whine of deadly missiles around him to rush into the open and drag the two wounded men to safety. https://www.facebook.com/thelastfullmeasurefilm/ -. "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. one moves westward towards Saigon. Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. No longer could he hear the sounds of William Pitsenbarger's M-16. When its engine began to lose power, the pilot realized he had to get the helicopter away from the area as soon as possible. Please reset your password. 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. An MRI also revealed a hematoma, or bad bruising, above his kidney that doctors found. We were completely surrounded.". Pitsenbarger received orders to go to Okinawa, but requested his orders be changed to go to Vietnam. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. During his short life, Thiago was surrounded by the love of his family. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. William Nolen of Florence, S.C. described how the battle involving his "Big Red One" troops developed. 1 OBITUARY INDEX PROJECT Entry citation Last name, first name I . Doctors determined that Dick Rynearson had suffered a broken upper left rib and a shattered sternum. There were mortars coming in, heavy machinegun fire. Read + Subscribe to This Local Life Magazine. This account has been disabled. Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio, awards the Pitsenbarger Scholarship to two full-time students per year who can show financial need. Pitsenbarger was in his element in Vietnam. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. After review and nearly 35 years later, the original award was upgraded.[4][7]. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The stokes litter dragged through the trees as Captain Salem fought for control. He was one of the few calm visions of hope that moved among the damned. This action earned him the Airman's Medal and the Republic of Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.[4]. Their sonthat's what this was all about. 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. "At the conclusion of the award, I felt that I was spiritually cleansed and fortified for a better rendition of service in the responsibility which I have for my government.". Make sure that the file is a photo. As Pits' Huskie began the approach, a plan for extracting the wounded man without detonating other mines in the field had to be devised. His role had taken him to Perth, Australia as a Pararescue-medic in the earliest days of the space program, working on the Gemini and Mercury space probe recoveries. Of those nineteen awards, ten were awarded to Pararescuemen. better known as PJs. As the enemy pulled back from the surrounded remainder of Charlie Company, in the total darkness of the jungle, civilian women and children under Viet Cong control slipped through the underbrush to recover the VC dead and wounded. This browser does not support getting your location. Then, as the Huskie lifted off, O'Berne remained on the ground to treat wounded and load them on the Army Chinook. Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum. The man had lost his foot when he stepped on a mine and was trapped inside a maze of old and unstable explosive devices. The two Huskies then turned towards the field aid station 7 miles away near the village of Binh Ba. Only two members of Sergeant Navarro's 10-man squad had survived. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. Search above to list available cemeteries. They forbade it, but after graduating in 1962 he enlisted in the Air Force. It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. 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. He had enlisted in the Air Force and would soon be boarding a train for San Antonio to begin his training. In the 1990s, a campaign was initiated by numerous private citizens as well as federal officials, to revisit the story of the boy from Piqua, Ohio. 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. (During the Korean War, four Air Force pilots were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor but all received the Army design for the award.). 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Even as a lad he had flirted with danger, taking his childhood games like "follow the leader" to the ledges of the highest buildings or the limbs of the tallest trees. 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. William Pitsenbarger Jr., 91, of Marseilles, passed away Friday, November 17, 2017 at Ottawa Pavilion. Few witnesses remained of the young PJs service and sacrifice. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. An estimated battalion of the enemy from the main force regiment was involved. After Air Force basic training, the young airman had continued to push the envelope and expand his thirst for adventure. PIQUA The Piqua and surrounding community came out in . Pedro 97 went in first, lowering the stokes litter to retrieve one of the wounded. During most of the missions the rescues were conducted under fire from enemy forces. Even without looking the young infantry sergeant knew what had happened. An Air Force rescue helicopter came over and lowered a ladder. Retha Mae (Simmons) Pitsenbarger, 90, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at Pendleton Manor. Once the man was airborne the crew of Pedro 73 expected their pararescueman to ride the penetrator back up to his waiting chopper. This electronic book is available for free download and printing from www.homeofheroes.com. Try again later. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. Geni requires JavaScript! As he moved among the bodies that littered the jungle floor, an Army captain approached and asked if he was a medic. Moments later a stokes litter was being lowered to the ground. There was a problem getting your location. A Angelo Urso September 13, 2021 Virginia and family, I am so sorry for your loss. 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. This time, working in tandem with Sergeant Milsten on Pedro 97, Pitsenbarger was able to load one litter case and two more wounded on the penetrator. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Detachment 6 consisted of five aircrews that flew three HH-43F Kaman Huskie helicopters. Jim Locker (Sidney) and A1C James Pielman (Russia). [6], Soon after Pitsenbarger was killed, his Air Force commanders nominated him for the Medal of Honor. Born February 19, 1927 at Thayer, WV she was the daughter of the late William Haynes and Ocie Dean Haynes As the last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by three brothers Alfred . Jane L Pitsenbarger of Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born on March 15, 1915. Ranging in age from 19-21, most had never witnessed such horror firsthand. For his actions, he was given the Airmans Medal by the United States; South Vietnam gave him the Vietnam Medal of Military Merit and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. 1928 - 2017. For the first time, the senior Pitsenbarger began to worry about the risks inherent in his son's military specialty. 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. Mary was born on April 11 1834, in West Virginia, USA. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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, or simply "Pits," grew up in the small town of Piqua in Ohio as an only child. He was a Pararescue Crew Member of Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. william schur regis grandson Home Uncategorized maryse burgot qui est son mari February 22, 2023 Off doctors accepting new patients in cambridge, ontario , In the other, he still clutched his medical kit. OBeirne believes Pitsenbarger probably continued giving aid until he was hit the third or fourth time. 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. 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. 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. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. His posthumous award was presented to his father at the Pentagon in ceremonies on July 16, 1967. At some point, a fatal bullet hit him. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. ), Pitsenbarger decided that he could speed things up if he could get to the ground. Airman Pitsenbarger repeatedly exposed himself to intensive automatic fire while gathering rifles and ammunition from fallen comrades which he passed among the defenders. Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, better known as "The Big Red One", began to move into the jungle between Saigon and Vung Tau in search of the enemy. 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