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Airman Pitsenberger was born in
Piqua, Ohio on July eighth, nineteen hundred and forty
four, he was destined to become a special person, joining
the Air Force right after graduation from Piqua Central
High School in nineteen hundred and sixty two. Bill
Pitsenbergar, was trained to be a Pararescue Medic,
with Commando training,(known as a "PJ") much like a
Navy Corpsman. He was proud of his job and showed his
zeal for plunging himself into imminent danger during
fire fights and many rescue attempts, he flew 300 missions
and successfully saved countless lives on the battlefield
while under heavy gunfire. At times Bill was called
upon to engage the enemy during ferocious fighting being
in situations where he had to help in putting the enemy
down, even during times when outnumbered. April 11 1966
at 1300 hrs. While off duty a call came in. Detachment
6, 38th ARR Squadron at Bien Hoa. Elements of the Army's
1st Infantry Division were surrounded by enemy forces
near Cam My Region 3, in thick jungle, tree canopies
as high as 150 feet. Pitsenbergar volunteered to go
on the hazardous mission.
Thirty minutes later the casualties
on the ground were mounting so quickly Pitsenbergar
found himself riding the wench line down to the ground.
He had Volunteered again because he felt he could be
more useful on the ground expeditiously treating the
most seriously wounded. Over the next hour and a half,
the HH-43 helicopter had returned five times while Pitsenbergar
successfully evacuated nine wounded soldiers. During
the sixth attempt, heavy automatic weapons and mortar
fire started raining on the area. The commander of C
Company the unit Pitsenbergar was with decided to move
to another area and was attacked and was overrun by
a large enemy formation. Some of the Army troops were
running out of ammunition. Pitsenbergar gave his pistol
to a wounded soldier who was unable to hold a rifle.
With complete disregard for his own safety he collected
rifles and ammunition from other dead soldiers and distributed
to the men still able to fight.
Pitsenbergar himself wounded three
times continued treating the wounded and to rearm his
Army comrades. He gathered several magazines of ammunition
and a rifle and laydown beside wounded Army Sgt. Fred
Navarro, one of C Company survivors. He began firing
at the enemy, as darkness begain to fall beneath the
Canopy of the Jungle, Pitsenbergar was hit again, this
time mortally wounded.
Pitsenbarger was the first airman awarded the Air Force
Cross posthumously for valor and honor.
On December eighth, year two thousand, some 34 years
later at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Airman
1st Class Pitsenbergar was awarded the Military's highest
award, posthumously, the Medal of Honor. The award was
accepted by his father, William F Pitsenbergar as his
wife Alice at his side. This was only the second time
an enlisted man from the Air Force ever received the
Medal of Honor. Pitsenbergar was also promoted posthumously
to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Secretary of the Air
Force Whit Peters presented the award.
EPILOGUE
This brave medic was not known by me, however he is
a brother to all Medics and Corpsmen everywhere. Making
a trip to the "Wall" this past week I looked up Staff
Sergeant William H. Pitsenbarger on panel 06E Line 102.
The night was cold near "0" Deg. Kneeling in front of
the panel I placed my hand on his name saying a silent
prayer. I also said thank you Bill, for being there
for your brothers and displaying such honor and valor
above and beyond the call of duty, you are a credit
to yourself and to your fellowman and to your country,
you became their angel and comforted them during their
time of desperate need. Even though the night air was
cold the "Wall" reflected the lights surrounding the
great shining black mass of humanity, I could feel the
warmth of his soul, tears begain to fill my eyes I knelt
there for what seemed like a lifetime, memories of combat
flashing through my mind and the horrors of war no one
can ever know unless one has been part of it, seeing
the mangled torn and twisted bodies, the blood, the
smell of death and cordite, the stillness of the after
battle with quietness broken only with the wounded crying
out in pain and fear, the sorrows of broken hearts to
come, the trembling that begins in oneself, the disbelief
of it all and the strength sapped out of your body.
Removing my hand from the wall and standing up looking
up into the dark sky it seemed like 52,000 plus very
bright stars twinkled in the sky reminding me of all
the names on the "Wall" I ask, why God, why did this
happen, Is there not another way for man to settle his
differences could this not have been averted? So many
young men and women who gave their all, they will never
grow old, they will never see their families again only
in the end, they will never marry , have children to
play and laugh with they will never see another Spring.
"They Will Be Forever
Young"
I turned and walked the walk along
the wall back and forth, like a sentry, looking over
the names on each panel. As I came to William H. Pitsenbarger's
panel, I stopped and placed my hand on his name again,
as I started to say something to him, a thought crossed
my mind.
"It said... Do not worry about
us Doc, we are at peace now and it is beautiful beyond
description behind this wall. We come here to visit
everyday, to help everyone overcome their grief for
us. Like our Fathers before us, this is our destiny,
it is over now, however try to understand we are at
peace, even though we miss our loved ones very much,
there will come a day when we will all be together again,
in this most beautiful place."
As I began to speak out softly to
Bill, the tears again begain to fill my eyes and once
again I felt the sadness of it all, I spoke out saying,
"We Will Remember" Bill, "We Will Remember".
Epilogue contributed by:
Thomas Graham Williams,
Vietnam Veteran, U.S. Navy Corpsman 59 -62
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