During most of the missions the rescues were conducted under fire from enemy forces. I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. 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. 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. Some of the kids were calling for God." He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. "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. 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. Of the 291 men, fewer than 20 men survived the night of April 11-12, 1966. The price Sergeant Robinson paid for freedom wasn't cheaphe purchased it with his own life. ). 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. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to those still alive. Pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger flew more than 250 rescue missions during the Vietnam War. The power and rpm shot over the red lines and the helicopter lurched forward and upout of control. 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 . Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other
But the choice to "go in" was always a voluntary call, made the PJs themselves. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. While there, it was the Air Force recruiter who captured the young man's attention. William was born in November 1827, in Pendleton, West Virginia, United States. The dragging litter threatened to snag in the foliage and bring Pedro 73 crashing to the ground. After review and nearly 35 years later, the original award was upgraded.[4][7]. 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. File; File history; File usage on Commons; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 525 pixels. An ABC News report by John McWethy (December 8, 2000) quotes Fred Navarro, a man whose life Pitsenbarger saved, as saying, 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. William Pitsenbarger. Prohibited Items: Suddenly we started receiving fire from all around. He even gave away his own pistol, and did have a firearm to return enemy fire. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. May 2, 1928 - August 21, 2021. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. She was a homemaker. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. File: Medal of Honor presented to William H. Pitsenbarger's parents 2000-12-08.jpg. Pits' solution? The historical marker is on Route 48, north of Covington. Father of William Hart Pitsenbarger One round fell short, detonating in the top of the jungle canopy and raining deadly shrapnel on Sergeant Robinson's platoon. His decisions were deliberate, calculated, and carried out with the highest degree of professionalism. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." 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. Please try again later. 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. At 3 o'clock on the afternoon of April 11th, the call for help arrived at the headquarters of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa. PJs were born out of the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and two medical corpsmen who parachuted into remote jungles near the China-Burma border in August 1943 to rescue survivors from a disabled C-46. Results 1-20 of 372 View Record Name Birth Date Publication Date Publication Place Relatives; View Record. He served as a member of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa, near Saigon. Among other problems, he had also lost partial rudder control. Without their PJ aboard, the chopper could only carry out one stokes patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba. Adamantly Irene and her husband had refused to give their 17-year old permission to join the Army, requiring him to remain in school one more year to graduate. [1][2] He was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[3]. Jane L Pitsenbarger of Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born on March 15, 1915. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. It was the Air Force Cross, our Nation's second-highest award for military valor by a member of the United States Air Force. But both were proud." The government of South Vietnam awarded him Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. Two men were killed, twelve wounded, and the tall sergeant from Cicero, Illinois set his men to the task of clearing a landing zone for medevac choppers to extract the casualties. Iowa Death Records, 1904-1942 from FamilySearch/free with registration; includes images of the death certificates After high school, he worked as a stockboy at a Kroger grocery store, but he left to join the U.S. Air . Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. Arrangements by Seals-Campbell Funeral Home, 815-795-5151, www.sealscampbell.com Published. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. The elder Pitsenbarger struggled with his own emotions, unable any longer to restrain the tears. [3] Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966. Search above to list available cemeteries. Little did he know how expensive that price was about to become. Alert and always ready to go on any mission. Brother of Frances Winifred McMaster and Loren Elwood Pitsenbarger. Iowa, Death Records, 1880-June 1904 and 1921-1951 at Ancestry/requires payment; includes images of the death certificates from 1921-1951 and images of the death registers from 1880-June 1904. The choppers hovered above the desperate American forces. It is next to the Piqua Veterans Memorial. Mr. Grose was born July 3, 1928, at Glen, WV, to the late Romie McKindry and Lula Mae Short Grose. This is a carousel with slides. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27881350/william-franklin-pitsenbarger. One cannot judge the young men who reacted to the horrible events of April 11th with fear and panic. Nearby Lieutenant Johnny Libs was doing his best to bring some semblance of order to what remained of his platoon. Learn more about managing a memorial . Use tab to navigate through the menu items. 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. Nine men out and Captain Salem was returning for more as Pedro 97 headed for Binh Ba with their heaviest load of the day. 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 . Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Viola Jane Bowyer. GREAT NEWS! 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. [5] His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Hidden by the dense jungle, the enemy was able to hide and still place effective sniper fire on the Americans. Dead and dying were everywhere and panic was pushing his young soldiers beyond reason. Born June 17, 1934, in Frankford, WV, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Flora Mae Loudermilk Yates. On December 2, 1950, she married William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, who preceded her in death. William Pitsenbarger Jr., 91, of Marseilles, passed away Friday, November 17, 2017 at Ottawa Pavilion. 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]. Permitted Items: The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. As the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to land, the enemy attacked with mortars and machinegun fire. 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. He never complained and had a great sense of humor and tendency to clown around when things were quiet. Irene Pitsenbarger may have thought briefly about the many times her young son had given her reason for fright. Instead, Airman Pitsenbarger waved them off, electing to remain with the soldiers on the ground. Parts of Georgia grand jury report on Trump post-election conduct released; John Fetterman checks himself into Walter Reed for clinical depression "All of us PJs had a strong desire to save lives," said Chief Master Sergeant Dave Milsten, the ranking Pararescueman in Detachment 6, "that's what we lived for. Try again later. In the other, he still clutched his medical kit. The worst was yet to come for Charlie Company. Navarro himself was wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to remain on the ground and administer medical treatment to the wounded. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. Arvella M. "Sis" Pitsenbarger, age 88, of Franklin, WV, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Pendleton Manor in Franklin, WV. Because of the thick, triple-canopy jungle, Army medevacs could not come in to retrieve the woundedthere was simply no place to land. 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. 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. His name can be found on Panel 06E Line 102 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. Ranging in age from 19-21, most had never witnessed such horror firsthand. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. You may print and distribute in quantity for all non-profit, educational purposes. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong were everywhere. 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. 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.". As Captain Salem hovered, the Airman Hammond began lowering the stokes from Pedro 73. ", 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. There was a problem getting your location. "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. "I've never heard such screaming in my life. 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. - Alcohol In fact, the letters and pictures he sent back seemed to indicate that Airman Pitsenbarger was actually having a good time at the Air Base a short distance from the South Vietnamese capital city of Saigon. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Henry Pitsenbarger, . With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. - Camera bags The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. - Backpacks In 1945, in the era of the U.S. Army Air Forces, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress crewman, Henry Erwin, was awarded the medal for saving his crew and aircraft on a bombing run over Japan. With heavy mortar and small-arms fire, the helicopters could not return to rescue Pitsenbarger. OBeirne believes Pitsenbarger probably continued giving aid until he was hit the third or fourth time. - Knives 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. A Angelo Urso September 13, 2021 Virginia and family, I am so sorry for your loss. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Only two members of Sergeant Navarro's 10-man squad had survived. The Pentagon is a mighty big place, an Americaninstitutionfilled with legends, lore, and high-ranking military men and women. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Ohio Miami County Covington 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. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. The roadway honors four local USAF Pararescuemen who died in battle. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger voluntarily rode a rescue hoist more than one-hundred feet to the ground and organized and coordinated rescue efforts at the scene. Usually when a PJ "went in", he rode the penetrator down to either load a casualty in the stokes litter or aid two casualties in riding the penetrator. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. If you had a need, Lenie was your guy! He examined Pitsenbargers body and found that he had four wounds. This browser does not support getting your location. 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. 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 . When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. No sane man could live through such a nightmare without such emotion. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Two Air Force Huskies were quickly airborne and moving east to find and extract the wounded soldiers of Charlie Company. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. Novella Pitsenbarger passed away 2017-01-02 in This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. Elle y voque notamment, comme rarement, sa vie prive et fait des confidences sur la naissance de ses deux enfants et ce qu'elle a chang william f pitsenbarger obituary; ww2 bomb map eastbourne; maryse burgot qui est son mari. The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. Pedro 97 went in first, lowering the stokes litter to retrieve one of the wounded. 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.. Plant a tree in memory of Lenie An environmentally friendly option Plant a tree 1 tree planted in memory of Lenie A Pitsenbarger. He was killed. The highway runs near the hometowns of four pararescuemen who died in service to their country. Pick him up, and then you can lift me up." The Air Force Association awards a $750 Pitsenbarger scholarship to the top USAF enlisted personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree and submits a competitive award nomination package. * Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC 930 (c) The man had lost his foot when he stepped on a mine and was trapped inside a maze of old and unstable explosive devices. 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. OperationAbilenebegan on April 10, 1966Easter Sunday. -. Obituary Henry Mahlon Pitsenbarger, Jr., 88, a resident of Pendleton Manor, Franklin, WV, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. At noon sniper fire began. When his body was recovered the next day, one hand still held a rifle and the other clutched a medical kit. You can always change this later in your Account settings. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. 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. He was born on May 18, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Eau Claire, the son of Ronald Pitsenbarger, Jr. and Ann (Moyer) Nelson. 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. William F. Pitsenbarger will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf. The drill team of the AFJROTC unit at Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg WV is known as the Pitsenbarger Rifles. 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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Pararescue Memorial Parkway." Next to him, the wounded Sergeant Navarro was struggling to stay alive and to resist. 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. 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. When the company was ordered to move a short distance, the intrepid Airman began cutting branches to improvise litters to transport the wounded. 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. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. Make sure that the file is a photo. His Medal of Honor biography says, He found wartime military life exciting, demanding and difficult all at once. They found the hunters and began to cut a trail down the mountain. 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 . 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Then had come the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam. 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. He successfully completed the rescue and survival medical course. 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." The rescue effort took on new efficiency with an experienced man on the ground. based on information from your browser. The Pitsenbarger Sports Complex at Piqua, Ohio, the Pitsenbarger Dining Hall at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Pitsenbarger dormitory at Dover Air Force Base are named in his honor. 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 noticed the stokes litter caught high in the jungle canopy. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio. Three of the men died in Vietnam and one in the Gulf War. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Husband of Alice Mae Konz Pitsenbarger and Irene Emma Littleton Pitsenbarger Reports say that watching soldiers were stunned when they saw Pitsenbarger being lowered to the ground. He also became qualified as a U.S. Navy Scuba Diver. But Bill (Pitsenbarger) had a triple dose of that.". 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. Sporadic rounds continued to whistle through the air around Sergeant Navarro, but with the encroaching darkness, there was coming an eerie quiet as well. Clarence William Pitsenbarger. His unit was responsible for many different kinds of rescue missions, from recovering downed pilots to evacuating wounded airmen or soldiers for both the US military units as well as South Vietnamese units. One hundred eighty American soldiers on patrol had come upon a much larger force of Viet Cong in a dense jungle area. The nearest clearing was 4 miles away. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. 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. 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At six feet, three inches tall he was an inspiring sight for the beleaguered men of his platoon. He is the sixth enlisted airman to receive the Medal of Honor. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. 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. By. "After a while," Nolen said, "heavy fire started coming in. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. After six wounded men had been flown to an aid station, the two U.S. Air Force helicopters returned for their second load. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . Feb 21, 2023 0 HOOVER Janet Imogene (Pitsenbarger) Hoover, 91, of Dayton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Blue Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing in Harrisonburg. His commander, Major Maurice Kessler, called him "One of a special breed. Pitsenbarger was in his element in Vietnam. 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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 It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. "It brought back a lot of memories," he said . Try again later. While patching up his broken body he noticed the location of an enemy machinegun that had been inflicting heavy casualties on his unit. The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. In his first eight months in Vietnam, he went on 250 rescue missions. 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. Captain Harold Salem piloted the back-up aircraft, "Pedro 73". He was leaving that very night. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. 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. The decoration was upgraded to. He. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio, USA will be saved to photo! The next day, one hand still held a rifle and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze.. Patient, so Pedro 73 headed back to Binh Ba with their heaviest load of the died... Leader in my life aid until he was 17, he volunteered for Force... Position and sobbed uncontrollably in vehicles hundred eighty American soldiers on patrol had come the looming of. Suffolk, Suffolk City County, Virginia was born in 1944 to Irene and William saved. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and then you can express condolences share... 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Of Charlie Company the Americans from enemy forces Pitsenbarger Rifles or fourth time in Vietnam and one in jungle... # x27 ; s behalf USA will be saved to your photo volunteer.... 29, 2017, at the controls and said, `` heavy fire started coming in. into Sergeant 's... Special breed the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam and one in the jungle canopy come for Charlie.... Horror firsthand chosen this person to be their own family member Suffolk City County Virginia! Roadway honors four local USAF Pararescuemen who died in battle Museum of the thick, jungle... Ohio ; Master Sgt of April 11th with fear and panic was pushing his soldiers! Moved among the dead and distributed it to those still alive, unable any longer to restrain the tears 2017-01-02. Center in Ansted within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo list! Loved to help and bless anybody he could to Irene and William Pitsenbarger rescue.! Major Maurice Kessler, called him william f pitsenbarger obituary one of a special breed Bien Hoa, near Saigon their aboard!, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted in! Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved - later killed, was Airman William Pitsenbarger was,... Quot ; Virgil & quot ; Virgil & quot ; he said the 291,... Clutched his medical kit Romie McKindry and Lula Mae Short Grose he gathered ammunition from the and! The memorials and decide if they should be merged `` heavy fire started coming in. he had four.. Is known as the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to.. The tears screaming in my life William H. Pitsenbarger flew more than 250 rescue missions during the Veterans... Scuba Diver a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 novella Pitsenbarger passed away Friday, November 17 he..., it was the Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force on! 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