For the next couple of hours Pitsenbarger crawled through the thick jungle looking for wounded soldiers. school, survival school, a rescue and survival medical course, and the U.S. Navys scuba diving school. Try again later. Piqua Education FoundationP.O. Geni requires JavaScript! (U.S. Air Force photo), DAYTON, Ohio - Part of Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger's uniform on display in the Southeast Asia War Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. He attended Piqua public schools and participated in the Vocational Industrial Club, intramural sports, and wrestling. Soon the firefight grew too intense for the helicopters to return. Angelo C. Caserta and Rev. 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. Enter Year. Hall said that Pitsenbargers descent into the firefight was the most unselfish and courageous act I ever witnessed. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Kroah, of Houston, said he remembered Pitsenbarger being lowered through the trees at a time whensmall-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. Before long Kroah had been wounded five times and was flat on the ground. Only U.S. Air Force HH-43 Huskie helicopters with cables and winches could hoist the injured from the jungle. Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com. [8] During the same ceremony he was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff sergeant. Born in 1944 in Piqua, Ohio, William H. Pitsenbarger was an ambitious only child. Please try again later. Heres his story, according to the museum: Born in 1944 in Piqua, Ohio, William H. Pitsenbarger was an ambitious only child. Airman Pitsenbarger was the rescue and survival specialist aboard "Pedro 73," one of the two Huskies on the mission. >> RELATED:Life-size statue honors Airman Pitsenbarger. He was just good-looking and had a real magnetic personality.. Failed to report flower. There was a problem getting your location. 1421 South St Piqua OH 45356. For the next hour and a half, Pitsenbarger tended to the wounded soldiers, hacking splints out of snarled vines and building improvised stretchers out of saplings. 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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Airman 1st class 38th Air Rescue Squadron - Det. Soon after the battle, his Air Force commanders nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but he did not receive it. 3201 Leadership DriveGloucester, VA 23061(804) 693-2210, Copyright 2020The Gloucester Institute. All had wondered for years why the Medal of Honor had not been awarded to Pitsenbarger. In 1992, Cheryl Buecker and her husband Tom, who was president of the 1962 class, persuaded David Vollette, president of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce, to join their effort. In the early 1990s, the classmates started a campaign to convince the Pentagon he deserved the medal. Messages run for up to one year and you He served in the United States Air Force during the war in Vietnam as an Airman First Clas in Detachment 6 of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. content you are seeking by clicking here. The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) awards a $500 Pitsenbarger Scholarship to the top 5% of each graduating class that is currently enrolled in a Bachelors program and submits a competitive award nomination package. He recalled that he was terrified when he was told to help Pitsenbarger during the firefight. Before leaving the area, his pilot, Harold D. Salem of Mesa, Ariz., signaled for Pitsenbarger to ride the litter up to safety. She will be remembered for her faith, love of family and concern for others and will be deeply missed by her loving family and many friends. Return to the home page. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. Vietnam War Pitsenbarger was later sent on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Vietnam. L'archiviazione tecnica o l'accesso sono strettamente necessari al fine legittimo di consentire l'uso di un servizio specifico esplicitamente richiesto dall'abbonato o dall'utente, o al solo scopo di effettuare la trasmissione di una comunicazione su una rete di comunicazione elettronica. Three requirements had to be . Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. - Coolers Funeral Home website by. All rights reserved. (U.S. Air Force photo), A1C William Pitsenbarger preparing for a water jump. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863 has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor posthumously to: A1C WILLIAM H. PITSENBARGER UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 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: Rank and organization: Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. Pitsenbarger was shot four times, once between the eyes, and died on the spot. 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. Learn more about managing a memorial . Vietnam War: U.S. Military Casualties, 1956-1998, Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 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]. Creato da Local Web . Charlie Company had suffered 80 percent casualties. Nickname(s) "Pits" Born July 8, 1944 Piqua, Ohio, U.S. Died April 11, 1966 (aged 21) Xa Cam My, Cm M District, Dong Nai Province, Republic of Vietnam Buried Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington, Ohio Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Air Force Years of service 19621966 Rank E5 USAF SSGT.svg Staff Sergeant (posthumous) Unit 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron Battles/wars Vietnam War Battle of Xa Cam My Awards Medal of Honor Air Force Cross Airman's Medal Purple Heart (2) Air Medal Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm Republic of Vietnam Medal of Military Merit, On April 11, 1966, he was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. William H. Pitsenbarger: Bravest Among the Brave Vietnam War Veteran. On April 7, 2001, Piqua held a community celebration of Pitsenbargers life and heroism, marked by the unveiling of a replica of an Ohio historical marker. On three different occasions I glimpsed movement, and it was Pits dragging somebody behind a tree trunk or a fallen tree, trying to give them first aid, he recalled. Fr. It had been 34 years since his death. There is now talk of putting up a statue of Pitsenbarger in the town square. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. In 1993 they got the town government to change the name of Piquas 67-acre Eisenhower Park to the Pitsenbarger Sports Complex, with a granite monument and bronze plaque, paid for in part by donations from 62 classmates. Born in 1944 in Piqua, Ohio, William H. Pitsenbarger was an ambitious only child. Weve updated the security on the site. Born: July 8, 1944, Piqua, Ohio Citation: Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on April 11, 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. She was preceded in death by a son, Charles Pitsenbarger, two sisters and four brothers. I know he made the conscious decision to stay there.Salem said that Pitsenbarger had volunteered to go to the ground because the soldiers were having trouble putting a wounded man into the wire basket to be lifted out. Click here to return to Combat Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia. - Diaper bags Judy Meckstroth, who worked with him at a local supermarket when he was in high school, said he loved to play poker, was a ladies man, won dance contests, and showed concern for other people, both young and old. Recommend BERNADINE's obituary to your friends. When Bill was a junior in high school, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, but his parents refused to give their permission. In Vietnam Airman 1st Class William H. "Bill" Pitsenbarger gave his life so that others might live. [9], Pitsenbarger was the first enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross medal, receiving the award posthumously in 1966.[5]. We have set your language to Pitsenbarger Sports Complex. You will find us to be a family owned funeral home for three generations serving Piqua and Miami and Shelby counties. He was an inspiration to me, said Epperson. Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. 27881355, citing Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by Pam Estes gedmatch# T131729 (contributor 46799761) . in memory of JOYCE E. PITSENBARGER, please visit our floral store. Funeral Home website by. [10][11] In addition to being designated Main Street through the city of Daytonwhere the Wright Brothers designed their airplanestate route 48 also runs along Miami Memorial Park north of Covington, Ohio, where all four are buried. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. Alert and always ready to go on any mission. We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. On December 8, 2000, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the airman's father, William F. Pitsenbarger, and his wife, Alice, accepted the Medal of Honor from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters. After graduating in 1962, Pitsenbarger joined the Air Force. Arriving in Vietnam in August 1965, Pitsenbarger completed more than 250 missions, including one in which he hung from an HH-43s cable to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier from a burning minefield. Mrs. Pitsenbarger attended St. Mary Catholic School and worked as a retail associate. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Loren Pitsenbarger. Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through. At one point, said Charles Epperson, of Paris, Mo., Pitsenbarger saw two wounded soldiers outside the perimeter. But in his short life and valorous Air Force career, he was an example of dedication, compassion and tenacity for all those with whom he served. Try again. The Bueckers said they did not know the process or what was needed in Washington, or even if it was possible for someone to receive the Medal of Honor after so many years. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. After review, the original award was upgraded, and on Dec. 8, 2000, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family in a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Museum. You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or plant a tree in memory of BERNADINE C. PITSENBARGER. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. Box 201, Piqua, OH 45356. She started her career with Piqua City Schools in 2003 as an aide at Wilder Intermediate before transitioning to Piqua High School in 2006. During his visit, high school classmates and chamber of commerce members mentioned their efforts for a Piqua memorial and the Medal of Honor, and the Bueckers discussed the process with him. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Memorial contributions may be made to the Piqua Education Foundation, P.O. Burial will follow at Miami Memorial Park, Covington. 2017-2023 Tribute Archive. . [1][3], A1C William Pitsenbarger with an M16 outside the HH-43. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Biography Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. In 1996, Chivalette went to Piqua to gather material to write a monograph on Pitsenbarger. (937) 778-2085. Meckstroth added that he was ornery and fun-loving. Alice Mae (Konz) Ptisenbarger passed away peacefully on October 24 surrounded by her family. It just seemed like he was everywhere. [1][2] He was initially posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[3]. In the vicious fighting which followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and airman Pitsenbarger was finally fatally wounded. Again, he refused and waved the chopper off. 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. 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