January-February 1970-page 11

“Hangar Dedicated to Heroic PJ”

 MEMORIAL FOR "PITS"- Maj William J. Deere, Det 11 commander, is shown with the plaque dedicating the alert facility to Alc William H. Pitsenbarger. The young pararescueman was very familiar with the action taking place in the second photo - an alert crew runs toward one of the detachment HH-43's in response to an aircraft emergency. Left to right are Capt Willie L. Farrow, SSgt Emmert E. Gordon and SSgt George J. Sheehan. (USAF photos)

Almost four years ago, Alc William H. Pitsenbarger dropped from a hovering HH-43F into the Vietnamese jungle to aid wounded soldiers in urgent need of medical attention. The 21-year-old pararescueman took the action knowing his own chances for survival were slim - the Army squad was surrounded by Viet Cong and under constant artillery and sniper fire. He did what he could for the wounded and when last seen was calmly firing at the encircling enemy.

Young "Pits" died that day in the jungle, but his story lives on. Recognition of his dedication to duty came during a Pentagon ceremony a few months later when he was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor. At the same ceremony, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Pitsenbarger of Piqua, Ohio, also received their son's Airman's Medal, Purple Heart and four Air Medals. More than three years later, the Pitsenbargers were guests of honor at another cere­mony that showed them once again the high regard the U. S. Air Force - and particularly the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service - had for their son. A new hangar erected at Craig AFB, Ala. , and occupied by Det 11, EARRC, was dedicated to the young pararescueman. Attending the ceremony with the Pitsenbargers were Col Walter F. Derck, commander EARRC, and Col Clarence F. Wydner, base commander.

Near the entrance to Det 11's new alert facility is a plaque, which reads: "Dedicated to the memory of William H. Pitsenbarger, Pararescueman. Killed in action on 11 April 1966 in the jungle near Binh Ba, Vietnam, while aiding wounded Army personnel. He was the first enlisted man to be awarded the Air Force Cross in Vietnam. He selflessly gave his life in the greatest tradition of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 'That Others May Live. "' Inside the building is a large painting of Airman Pitsenbarger. It was presented by "Airman" magazine which had carried a story of the pararescueman's bravery.

The idea of dedicating the new facility to Airman Pitsenbarger was conceived by Maj Charles P. Nadler, former commander of Det 11. He had served with the young airman and, like the other rescuemen in Det 6, 38th ARRSq, at Bien Hoa, had never forgotten "Pits" and the things he stood for.

last update : 15/08/2007