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| The President of the United States in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to WILLIAM H. PITSENBARGER Staff Sergeant United States Air Force for service as set forth in the following |
CITATION:
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 Rescue and Recovery Squadron. 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. 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 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. 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, pull 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 which followed, the
American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached,
and Airman Pitsenbarger was finally 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 military service and reflect great
credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.
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 Rescue and Recovery Squadron. 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. 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 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. 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, pull 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 which followed, the
American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached,
and Airman Pitsenbarger was finally 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 military service and reflect great
credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.