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. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. In this first part of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, we took quite a few casualties. OBeirne believes Pitsenbarger probably continued giving aid until he was hit the third or fourth time. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Read + Subscribe to This Local Life Magazine. Following the recovery of the ninth casualty, the rescue aircraft hovering overhead was damaged and disabled by automatic weapon fire. "I Couldn't Believe That Anybody Was Brave Enough, Or Crazy Enough". 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 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 . Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, Open9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, W.Va., and formerly Moyers, W.Va., passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, at Pendleton Manor. Mr. Pitsenbarger graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. He examined Pitsenbargers body and found that he had four wounds. Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. Like nothing could hurt him. But Bill (Pitsenbarger) had a triple dose of that.". A Angelo Urso September 13, 2021 Virginia and family, I am so sorry for your loss. The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. His parents, however, convinced him to finish his studies; he graduated in the class of 1962. William and Irene Pitsenbarger looked with reverence at the medal presented to them by General McConnell on behalf of their son. Their sonthat's what this was all about. The choppers could only carry two stokes litter patients on each in-and-out, and only one if there was no PJ aboard. 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. He was born on May 18, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Eau Claire, the son of Ronald Pitsenbarger, Jr. and Ann (Moyer) Nelson. [13], Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Award for 2012.[14]. OperationAbilenebegan on April 10, 1966Easter Sunday. Failed to report flower. Also attending was an elderly gentleman, now well into his 80sWilliam F. Pitsenbarger. They found the hunters and began to cut a trail down the mountain. 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.". 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. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Mary was born on April 11 1834, in West Virginia, USA. "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. At six feet, three inches tall he was an inspiring sight for the beleaguered men of his platoon. Of the 291 men, fewer than 20 men survived the night of April 11-12, 1966. This was granted. 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 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Weapons, https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations. The company commander, Capt. The elder Pitsenbarger gratefully accepted the award on behalf of his only son. The price Sergeant Robinson paid for freedom wasn't cheaphe purchased it with his own life. can i use a visa gift card for groceries; crush unfollowed me on instagram He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. Arriving with the Army's CH47 helicopters on Tuesday morning was the only operable Huskie from Detachment 6. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael E. Ryan (right) and about 1,800 guests attended the ceremony. Please reset your password. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute ammunition (from dead and wounded soldiers) to American defenders. Pandemonium erupted among the American soldiers as they clamored for any semblance of shelter. It was the only helicopter equipped with cables and winches that could be lowered into the jungle. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. Amid a flood of memories, an invocation by the Chief of the Air Force Chaplain Service, and remarks by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force the Honorable F. Whitten Peters stepped to the podium. Beneath was the body of his friend, Pararescue medic William Pitsenbargershot four times. * Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC 930 (c) Seven of his 10-man squad had already been killed in action. It was like walking into a whole new world, a world separated from their small hometown of Piqua, Ohio by more than miles. This allowed the rescue team to recover 4-5 wounded men with each in and out trip of the helicopters. It was placed by The Valley of the Jolly Green Giants and the Ohio Historical Society. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. That done, Captain Bachman returned to use the stokes to pull one more wounded soldier from the field of battle. Two more rounds struck flesh, ripping into Sergeant Robinson's chest and draining what little strength remained in his broken body. As he moved among the bodies that littered the jungle floor, an Army captain approached and asked if he was a medic. This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. Subsequent to the award, Pitsenbarger will also be posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. Indeed, after escorting the badly damaged Pedro 73 to an emergency landing, Captain Bachman and his team returned. He was credited with saving nine lives. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC But the choice to "go in" was always a voluntary call, made the PJs themselves. "Pits," as he was known to friends, had been killed in action five months earlier. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Viola Jane Bowyer. On the ground, things had gone from bad to worse. In time, Pits became an Air Force legend not so much for what his citation said about his actions that day in April 1966, but for the details, it did not include! Suddenly we started receiving fire from all around. Try again later. Pits' solution? There was a problem getting your location. 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. As the infantrymen fought to reclaim enough jungle landscape for the medevacs to land, the enemy attacked with mortars and machinegun fire. Reports say that watching soldiers were stunned when they saw Pitsenbarger being lowered to the ground. How soon? Sidney Daily News. Edit Search New Search. Standing to the side to witness the events that were about to unfold was Ohio Senator Frank Lausche. Novella Pitsenbarger passed away 2017-01-02 in This is the full obituary story where you can express condolences and share memories. The 2019 film The Last Full Measure depicting Pitsenbarger's life stars Jeremy Irvine as Pitsenbarger. Fred Navarro, a man whose life William Pitsenbarger saved -. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Artie Eugene Grose Obituary. 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. He had enlisted in the Air Force and would soon be boarding a train for San Antonio to begin his training. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. In little more than an hour, the two birds had each made two in-and-out trips to recover six wounded soldiers. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Arnold M Pitsenbarger: Abt 1930: After arriving on the scene, OBeirne learned of Pitsenbargers death. The only real defense the American survivors had in the dark rain forest came from American artillery. Irene Pitsenbarger may have thought briefly about the many times her young son had given her reason for fright. During the brightest day, soldiers moving acrossthe jungle floor can almost feel that they are moving about at night. 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. For that selfless act of heroism, Pits was awarded the highly regarded Airman's Medal by the United States Air Force. From above, Airman Pitsenbarger watched them struggle with the apparatus. Then had come the looming threats of conflict in Vietnam. which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and Over the months that followed William Pitsenbarger did his best to downplay the dangers of his job in his letters home. Like nothing could hurt him. GREAT NEWS! Instead, Airman Pitsenbarger waved them off, electing to remain with the soldiers on the ground. Haley, of Ukiah, Calif., was dirty and unkept after his unit had been in the jungles 30 miles east of Saigon for two weeks searching for the Viet Cong. William Pitsenbarger. [citation needed] Although Pitsenbarger did not escape alive, 60 other men did. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." - Alcohol In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. He was one of the few calm visions of hope that moved among the damned. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force. Arvella M. "Sis" Pitsenbarger, age 88, of Franklin, WV, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Pendleton Manor in Franklin, WV. One cannot judge the young men who reacted to the horrible events of April 11th with fear and panic. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. 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. More Air Force rescue training and jungle survival school followed. She was born May 8, 1931, in Moyers, W.Va., a daughter of the late Benjamin Cameron and Dorothy Louella (Simmons) Pitsenbarger. 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. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Twelve members of the United States Air Force received Medals of Honor for heroic actions in Vietnam. Despite the continuing enemy fire, he climbed the trees to salvage the litter and make it ready for the choppers' return. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. His name can be found on Panel 06E Line 102 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. His only remark when the call for help arrived had been, "I have a bad feeling about this mission." In one lifeless hand Pits still held his M-16 rifle. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. While the three initial recovered casualties were unloaded, Pits and Pedro 97's PJ Sergeant David Milsten discussed "going in" on the choppers' return. As Captain Salem headed towards the aid station, Pedro 97 moved in to hover over the battlefield. William F. Pitsenbarger will accept the Medal of Honor on his son's behalf. 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. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27881350/william-franklin-pitsenbarger. Search above to list available cemeteries. Arvella M. Pitsenbarger. 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.". The decoration was upgraded to. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. On December 2, 1950, she married William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, who preceded her in death. -. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Little did he know how expensive that price was about to become. cemeteries found in Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. based on information from your browser. The wire stretchers, however, kept getting caught in the jungle trees. https://www.facebook.com/thelastfullmeasurefilm/ His commander, Major Maurice Kessler, called him "One of a special breed. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . 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. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. - Strollers All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. 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. 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. After he graduated in 1962, an Air Force recruiter inspired him to sign up. One must imagine William Pitsenbarger must have felt fear himself. A native of rural Piqua, Ohio, Pitsenbarger saw the first light of life on July 8, 1944. Quickly the pilot threw the switches to arm the cable cutter, releasing the litter and freeing his aircraft. At times, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Detachment 6 flew three HH-43F Huskie helicopters, which recovered downed airmen and injured ground troops. In his junior year of high school in his small town of 20,000, young William Pitsenbarger had tried to enlist in the Army's Special Forces to wear the coveted Green Beret. The stokes litter dragged through the trees as Captain Salem fought for control. The Viet Cong withdrew and we called in artillery fire. Time and again he has faced enemy fire, stared death in the face and calmly set himself to the tasks of a Pararescue medic. Pararescue Memorial Parkway." When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace . He wanted to enlist in the Army when he was junior high, but his parents did not allow him. - Diaper bags Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. The guest list included combat veterans, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a Congressional representative, and the Air Force Chief of Staff. When Pitsenbarger reached the wounded soldiers, he organized their rescue and prepared for them to be transferred to get to the helicopters. His decisions were deliberate, calculated, and carried out with the highest degree of professionalism. Next to him, the wounded Sergeant Navarro was struggling to stay alive and to resist. During the rescue operation, he cared for and prepared the casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. Two Air Force Huskies were quickly airborne and moving east to find and extract the wounded soldiers of Charlie Company. 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. He was wounded twice. They were also dedicated to saving lives, not only during times of war but also in peace. I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. Bill McDaniel (Greenville), Sgt. At least nine rounds hit the aircraft, one of them tearing through the wiring and causing the throttle control to jam at full throttle. January 24, 2020. But the Huskies had a unique advantage. 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. The nearest clearing was 4 miles away. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. Before his death, he helped save over 60 men in the battle. In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. His experience expedited the process of getting the wounded soldier into the stokes litter and a fourth casualty was being hauled skyward. PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. According to members of his squadron, Bill enjoyed participating in flights to treat patients at a leper colony in Viet Cong controlled territory. Once he was lowered from a helicopter to rescue a South Vietnamese soldier in a burning mine field. [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]. San Francisco television stations covered the rescue on the evening news.. Nine men out and Captain Salem was returning for more as Pedro 97 headed for Binh Ba with their heaviest load of the day. 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. They tried to leave the area, but they were attacked by the large Viet Cong force. 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. Him, the Americans fought the enemy hand to hand the United Air. 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