Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Biography Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 and grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. frank pitsenbarger obituary piqua, ohio. 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. (937) 778-2085. The Ohio University graduates work has appeared in the Dayton Daily News since 2000. Upon completing his first TDY assignment, he volunteered to return and received orders in 1965 to report to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Piqua Christian Church, 3969 OH 185, Piqua, OH 45356. The article was written by Lacy Dean McCrary and originally published in the June 2002 issue of Vietnam Magazine. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. sadie robertson baby registry. His parents were William and Irene Pitsenbarger of 626 Gordon Street. On October 6, 2000, Congress approved a bill that included awarding the Medal of Honor to Pitsenbarger. Verify and try again. Toward that end, W. Parker Hayes, Jr., a historian with the Air Force Sergeants Association, had tracked down the Army veterans who had served with Pitsenbarger. Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Bob Ford, a retired Piqua assistant fire chief who knew him most of his life, said Pitsenbarger had two other loves: baseball and playing soldier. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 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 surrounded by a Viet Cong battalion of approximately 500 troops. He did actually give up his life for guys on the ground that he didnt even know. All Rights Reserved. Airman Pitsenbarger was the rescue and survival specialist aboard "Pedro 73," one of the two Huskies on the mission. His personal choice toget on the ground to help the wounded is undoubtedly one of the bravest things Ive ever seen, said Peters. Mrs. Pitsenbarger was a 1950 graduate of Piqua Central High School, worked at the former Superior Underwear Company, and assisted her husband with the Pitsenbarger Electric Company. 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. Army helicopters could not land in the battle zone because there were no clearings in the tall, dense "triple canopy" forest. In 1998, the Air Force Sergeants Association took up the cause. 937-773-5981 [fax], William H. Pitsenbarger was born in Piqua, Ohio July 8, 1944. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Jim Locker of Sidney, Ohio; Master Sgt. When the others began running low on ammunition, he gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed them to those still alive. Her greatest joys in life were her faith and watching and enjoying her children and grandchildren. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. [4] He completed the qualifying requirements and was one of the first group of airmen to qualify for Pararescue right out of basic training. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles Pitsenbarger. Additionally, she was active with the Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs. [CDATA[// >
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