So thick is the top layer, often rising over 150 feet upwards, that sunlight never reaches the vegetation at ground level. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. 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. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. Shirley was born December 29, 1932, in Miami County to the late Milton & Edna (Niesley) Buckingham. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. [13], Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Award for 2012.[14]. 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). Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. OBeirne believes Pitsenbarger probably continued giving aid until he was hit the third or fourth time. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. For nearly a month the officer and his two medics had treated the injured while leading them to rescue. 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. "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. Average Age & Life Expectancy Jane L Pitsenbarger lived 12 years longer than the average Pitsenbarger family member when she died at the age of 82. - Box cutters In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. The Last Full Measure is about real-life Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger who tragically died at the age of 21 during a rescue mission in 1966 after saving countless lives during the war. The ceremony will be held in the Museum's Modern Flight Hangar at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 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. OBITUARY Shirley A Pitsenbarger December 29, 1932 - February 8, 2023. After review and nearly 35 years later, the original award was upgraded.[4][7]. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. These men were now cut off from Able and Bravo companies and were surrounded by 400 or more enemy soldiers. 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 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. When his basic training was complete, he volunteered for Air Force Pararescue duty. Pits' solution? Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. As he moved among the bodies that littered the jungle floor, an Army captain approached and asked if he was a medic. A system error has occurred. Of those nineteen awards, ten were awarded to Pararescuemen. better known as PJs. 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. Wrote Senator Lausche in hisCongressional Recordaccount of that day. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC Failed to report flower. 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. Pitsenbarger was given the Air Force Cross for his actions on June 30, 1966. Gallant, they were true. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Viola Jane Bowyer. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. May 2, 1928 - August 21, 2021. Captain Harold Salem piloted the back-up aircraft, "Pedro 73". O'Berne replied that he was. There is a problem with your email/password. The elder Pitsenbarger gratefully accepted the award on behalf of his only son. - Diaper bags 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.". Shirley A. Pitsenbarger age 90, of Versailles passed away at 9:16 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at her residence. 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. 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. The frightened bear performed an about-face and fled. Results 1-20 of 39 View Record Name Birth Date Publication Date Death Place; View Record. He attended the Navy's underwater swimmers school. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. 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. 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. PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. Weve updated the security on the site. Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio, awards the Pitsenbarger Scholarship to two full-time students per year who can show financial need. Indeed, after escorting the badly damaged Pedro 73 to an emergency landing, Captain Bachman and his team returned. [citation needed] Although Pitsenbarger did not escape alive, 60 other men did. Surviving is a son, Richter "Rick" James Pitsenbarger of St. Albans, West Virginia; a sister, Agnes Hodge (Sammy) of Hot Springs, Virginia. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Jane Pitsenbarger passed away at age 82 years old on April 10, 1997. 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. Olly Richards NME. 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. In little more than an hour, the two birds had each made two in-and-out trips to recover six wounded soldiers. But the Huskies had a unique advantage. 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.". The government of South Vietnam awarded him Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. 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 described the forerunners of the Pararescue program as "Gallant". The father shed tears. 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.. After arriving on the scene, OBeirne learned of Pitsenbargers death. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. He was born on May 18, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Eau Claire, the son of Ronald Pitsenbarger, Jr. and Ann (Moyer) Nelson. Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. 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. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. Of the 134 soldiers in Charlie Company at the beginning ofOperation Abilene, there were 106 casualties. for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Cam My, April 11, 1966: 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm, Republic of Vietnam Medal of Military Merit, Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron, National Museum of the United States Air Force, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War, "William H. Pitsenbarger: Bravest Among the Brave Vietnam War Veteran", "Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger", "Sebastian Stan and all-star cast elevate the heroism of 'The Last Full Measure', "Vietnam War Period Medal of Honor recipients", United States Army Center of Military History, Wright Patterson Air Force Base Skywrighter, "William H. Pitsenbarger: A Hero of Piqua and America", "Pitsenbarger's memorial page on The Virtual Wall", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_H._Pitsenbarger&oldid=1134674290, This page was last edited on 19 January 2023, at 23:17. He was credited with saving nine lives. 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. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended the ceremony. Sporadic rounds continued to whistle through the air around Sergeant Navarro, but with the encroaching darkness, there was coming an eerie quiet as well. Mildred was of the Baptist faith. 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. Read + Subscribe to This Local Life Magazine. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio. His posthumous award was presented to his father at the Pentagon in ceremonies on July 16, 1967. Mary was born on April 11 1834, in West Virginia, USA. The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 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. 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. The helicopter was forced to abandon recovery efforts to make an emergency landing at a nearby airstrip. Despite the continuing enemy fire, he climbed the trees to salvage the litter and make it ready for the choppers' return. Dead and dying were everywhere and panic was pushing his young soldiers beyond reason. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. - Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.) 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. 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. 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