William Pitsenbarger’s heroics gained more recognition in the eyes of the general public thanks to the 2019 motion picture The Last Full Measure.
In the mostly friendly world of interservice rivalries in the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) is generally looked down upon by the sister services as the “Chair Force,” the weakest of all the services in terms of physical and mental toughness.
However, you won’t typically hear that gibe leveled at the USAF’s Pararescuemen, aka Pararescue Jumpers (“PJs”). Part of the USAF’s Special Tactics Teams—along with Tactical Air Control Party, Special Reconnaissance, and Combat Control—they’re readily acknowledged as being every bit as badass as the Army’s Delta Force, Special Forces (Green Berets), and Rangers, the Navy SEALs, and the Marine Corp Recon, Force Recon, and Marine Raiders.
Yet, for all the PJs’ heroic exploits, only one Pararescuemen has ever received the Medal of Honor (MOH). Not only was this PJ awarded his MOH posthumously, but it took a whopping 34 years after his heroic actions during the Vietnam War for him to receive it. The hero in question was then-Airman 1st Class (A1C) William H. “Pits” Pitsenbarger.
William Pitsenbarger’s Early Life and Initial Military Career
William Hart Pitsenbarger was born on July 8, 1944, in Piqua, Ohio to Frank and Alice Pitsenbarger. During his junior year at Piqua Central High School, young “Pits” tried to join the U.S. Army to become a Green Beret, but his parents wouldn’t give their permission. Having to wait patiently until he graduated, Pits decided to join the Air Force instead. On New Year’s Eve of 1962, he shipped off via train to USAF Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB, Texas, whereupon he volunteered for Pararescue.
After successfully completing BMT and the PJ tech school pipeline, Airman Pitsenbarger headed to the now-defunct Hamilton AFB in California to become part of the Rescue Squadron stationed there.
(Eventually) Earning the MOH: A1C Pitsenbarger’s Wartime Heroics
Before long, Pits was sent to Vietnam for the first time, on a temporary duty basis. He volunteered for a second tour of duty, and in 1965 was rewarded for this effort with an assignment to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon, which used the Kaman HH-43F Huskie, aka “Pedro” as its duty helicopter. Pitsenbarger completed more than 250 missions. On April 11, 1966, during the Battle of Xa Cam My, he had his date with destiny.
As noted by his official MOH citation:
“On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an ongoing firefight between elements of the United States Army’s 1st Infantry Division and a sizeable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. 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. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day was recovered, Airman Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get more wounded soldiers 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. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind on the ground to perform medical duties. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pulled them out of the line of fire, and return fire whenever he could, during which time he was wounded three times. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, Simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. In the vicious fighting that followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and Airman Pitsenbarger was fatally wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. 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.”
William Pitsenbarger’s Legacy
A1C Pitsenbarger’s commanders nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but thanks to a bean-counting Army general’s meddling, he was downgraded to the Air Force Cross. It wasn’t until December 8, 2000, that Pits’ long-overdue MOH upgrade was finally awarded, along with a posthumous promotion to staff sergeant. Both of his parents were present to accept the Medal. 14 months later, Frank Pitsenbarger passed away from cancer. (Alice lived until October 2019.)
Pitsenbarger’s heroics gained more recognition in the eyes of the general public thanks to the 2019 motion picture The Last Full Measure. In a January 2020 article, Kevin Lang of History vs. Hollywood gives a detailed description of how much of the movie is factually correct as opposed to embellished.
If we go by Pitsenbarger’s rank at the time of his medal-winning actions as opposed to his posthumous final rank, that ties him with then-A1C (later Sgt) John Lee Levitow as the lowest-ranking airman to receive the Medal of Honor. The difference was that Sgt Levitow was alive for his medal presentation (although tragically, he still died way too young, at age 55 back in November 2000); then-President Richard M. Nixon presented it to him on Armed Forces Day, May 14, 1970).
R.I.P. and God bless, SSgt Pitsenbarger. ‘Til Valhalla, HOOYAH!
About the Author: Christian D. Orr
Christian D. Orr was previously a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ) and 19FortyFive. He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch, The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS). If you’d like to pick his brain further, you can ofttimes find him at the Old Virginia Tobacco Company (OVTC) lounge in Manassas, Virginia, partaking of fine stogies and good quality human camaraderie.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
