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. Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to remain on the ground and administer medical treatment to the wounded. The father shed tears. - Box cutters The choppers hovered above the desperate American forces. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Instead, Airman Pitsenbarger waved them off, electing to remain with the soldiers on the ground. Jim Locker (Sidney) and A1C James Pielman (Russia). He loved to go to concerts and watch fireworks. He loved to help and bless anybody he could. 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. When the mission called for such acts of personal courage, there was never a shortage of volunteers. Mr. Pitsenbarger was a member of St. Paul Independent Lutheran Church. Born June 17, 1934, in Frankford, WV, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Flora Mae Loudermilk Yates. There is a problem with your email/password. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. William Pitsenbarger Jr., 91, of Marseilles, passed away Friday, November 17, 2017 at Ottawa Pavilion. Now, stranded on the ground with the few survivors of Charlie Company, he took little time to ponder the predicament into which he had voluntarily placed himself. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. January 24, 2020. "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. Search above to list available cemeteries. OBITUARY Shirley A Pitsenbarger December 29, 1932 - February 8, 2023. Lieutenant Libs strained his eyes against the unexpected sight. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. 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." This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. The captain consented and slowly the choppers crew chief Airman First Class Gerald Hammond lowered his friend on the jungle penetrator. Mildred Pitsenbarger Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Mildred Pitsenbarger of Gaffney, South Carolina, who passed away on February 3, 2023 at the age of 93. [9], Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger has been awarded the following:[10], Pitsenbarger was the first enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross medal, receiving the award posthumously in 1966.[5]. Clarence William Pitsenbarger. 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. 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. Airman Pitsenbarger arrived in Vietnam on August 8th and was assigned to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base. Lenie A Pitsenbarger Willoughby, Ohio March 26, 1973 - September 1, 2021 Obituary & Events Share a memory of Lenie A Pitsenbarger. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. Pitsenbarger 'Pits' arrived in Vietnam in August 1965. 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. Pitsenbarger received orders to go to Okinawa, but requested his orders be changed to go to Vietnam. Arriving with the Army's CH47 helicopters on Tuesday morning was the only operable Huskie from Detachment 6. Little did he know how expensive that price was about to become. Oops, we were unable to send the email. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. No longer could he hear the sounds of William Pitsenbarger's M-16. On December 2, 1950, she married William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, who preceded her in death. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Son of John Walter Pitsenbarger and Freda Blanche Pitsenbarger 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.. 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. 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. For Mr. and Mrs. William Pitsenbarger, the September 22, 1966 visit to the home of America's military men and women had all the elements of culture shock. He trained with members of the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia to earn his jump wings. 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. - Firearms* 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. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. he attended the fire-fighters course for the HH-43 helicopter. He came there to save lives and that was what he was doing., -Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -, (Photocourtesy of the Piqua Public Library History Department). PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Viola Jane Bowyer. Please reset your password. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. His experience expedited the process of getting the wounded soldier into the stokes litter and a fourth casualty was being hauled skyward. 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. Under the guidance of the brave PJ, the infantrymen were able to quickly send two more stokes patients to safety. The Viet Cong were everywhere. Young William had come home after his extensive training a grown man, confident that he could accomplish any task and fulfill any demands his job might require. [4] He completed the requirements, and was one of the first group of airmen to qualify for Pararescue right out of basic training. Reports say that watching soldiers were stunned when they saw Pitsenbarger being lowered to the ground. Pick him up, and then you can lift me up." - Food and Soda Drinks Nine men out and Captain Salem was returning for more as Pedro 97 headed for Binh Ba with their heaviest load of the day. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. They were also dedicated to saving lives, not only during times of war but also in peace. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other
He successfully completed the rescue and survival medical course. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. There were mortars coming in, heavy machinegun fire. The Pentagon is a mighty big place, an Americaninstitutionfilled with legends, lore, and high-ranking military men and women. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." But both were proud." He was a Pararescue Crew Member of Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. File; File history; File usage on Commons; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 525 pixels. It was erected by the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Historical Society. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Shirley A. Pitsenbarger age 90, of Versailles passed away at 9:16 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at her residence. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. 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 I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. They found the hunters and began to cut a trail down the mountain. He examined Pitsenbargers body and found that he had four wounds. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. Since the litter was already outside the helicopter, Hammond placed the penetrator inside the stokes and began lowering both. Yes, the elder Pitsenbarger was justly proud of his son. Virginia, to William Pitsenbarger and Mary "Polly" Pitsenbarger (born Amick). Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. Prohibited Items: Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. 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. This was granted. Verify and try again. Nearby Lieutenant Johnny Libs was doing his best to bring some semblance of order to what remained of his platoon. William H. Pitsenbarger is killed in action. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Pitsenbarger was killed by Viet Cong snipers later that night. 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. As Captain Salem hovered, the Airman Hammond began lowering the stokes from Pedro 73. An MRI also revealed a hematoma, or bad bruising, above his kidney that doctors found. All Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016 results for Pitsenbarger. Ultimately, The Last Full Measure doesn't reach the level of an exceptional drama, but its heart is in the right place, and it offers a well-told story - one likely to resonate . Detachment 6 consisted of five aircrews that flew three HH-43F Kaman Huskie helicopters. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Results 1-20 of 372 View Record Name Birth Date Publication Date Publication Place Relatives; View Record. 1928 - 2017. At times, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. By 3:30 the two Air Force choppers were hovering over the tops of the jungle canopy while death and devastation raged below. Statue dedication ceremony for A1C William H. Pitsenbarger statue at the Pitsenbarger Sports Complex in Piqua, Ohio on November 14, 2015. 27881355, citing Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Pam Estes gedmatch# T131729 (contributor 46799761) . At some point during the rescue, they encountered a bear. As Captain Salem headed towards the aid station, Pedro 97 moved in to hover over the battlefield. She was born October 28, 1929 in Moyers, WV a daughter of the late Lona (Rexrode) and Frank Simmons. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. He was the first airman to receive the honor and continues to be remembered for risking his life to save the lives of others. Navarro himself was wounded. FREEAdmission & Parking, Sometimes, awards and decorations are presented posthumously. William F. Pitsenbarger will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf. The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. As he moved among the bodies that littered the jungle floor, an Army captain approached and asked if he was a medic. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. As Pits' Huskie began the approach, a plan for extracting the wounded man without detonating other mines in the field had to be devised. 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. That done, Captain Bachman returned to use the stokes to pull one more wounded soldier from the field of battle. He volunteered to ride a hoist over 100 feet through the jungle and to the jungle floor. Make sure that the file is a photo. In the midst of sudden death and unrestrained terror, Sergeant Robinson began moving among the men to organize defensive fire and inspire confidence. This browser does not support getting your location. Standing to the side to witness the events that were about to unfold was Ohio Senator Frank Lausche. He was leaving that very night. The full force of the aggressors turned their firepower on the advancing American. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force. 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. 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. Then had come the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam. 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. Quickly the pilot threw the switches to arm the cable cutter, releasing the litter and freeing his aircraft. Gallant, they were true. 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. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. His only remark when the call for help arrived had been, "I have a bad feeling about this mission." Rescue personnel on board, the helicopters lowered wire stretchers to the ground to try to pick up wounded men. Geni requires JavaScript! 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. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to those still alive. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Some of the kids were calling for God." So thick is the top layer, often rising over 150 feet upwards, that sunlight never reaches the vegetation at ground level. He was preceded in death by his wife Mable, October 8, 2005. The nearest clearing was 4 miles away. Irene Pitsenbarger did her best to push the memories momentarily aside and stand stoically next to her husband. one moves westward towards Saigon. 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. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio. To use this feature, use a newer browser. It was the first time the pararescueman had ever voiced any misgivings about any mission. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Please try again later. A Angelo Urso September 13, 2021 Virginia and family, I am so sorry for your loss. He was also a very large target. Please enter your email and password to sign in. O'Berne replied that he was. Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. 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. How bad was it on the ground? You have chosen this person to be their own family member. (Note: Only the US Air Force HH43 Huskie helicopter could rescue wounded from the jungle. The Air Force Sergeants Association annually confers a "Pitsenbarger Award," which recognizes an Air Force enlisted member for heroic acts on or off duty that . The local . Alice C Pitsenbarger : Abt 1913: 7 Jan 2000: Redfield IA: View Record. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Mary was born on April 11 1834, in West Virginia, USA. Next to him, all was quiet. Failed to report flower. Along with Pitsenbarger, the men honored on the sign are: Msgt. This cable contained 3 spring-loaded seats that could be dropped through the heavy canopy to pull up men capable of riding the hoist up. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. If you had a need, Lenie was your guy! The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. He personally saved over sixty men. 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