'That others may live' Air Force hero remembered

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNEWS) --  April 11 was an important anniversary for all Airmen as it marked 41 years since Airman 1st Class William Pitsenbarger, pararescue crewmember, distinguished himself by extreme valor near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam.

The slogan 'that others may live' is the foundation of everything Air Force pararescuemen stand for, live by and sometimes die by.

Airman Pitsenbarger, though predating the slogan, personified it on April 11, 1966. He was serving aboard an HH-43 Huskie rescue helicopter when a call for evacuation of casualties incurred came in.

On the ground, in the thick jungles approximately 35 miles east of Saigon, an Army infantry division was engaged in a fierce firefight and was surrounded by a Viet Cong battalion four times their number.

The helicopter Airman Pitsenbarger rode in was unable to land in the battle zone because of the thick jungle, and pararescuemen were forced to drop hoists down through the canopy to winch injured Soldiers to safety.

When Soldiers on the ground began having trouble loading their injured onto the hoists, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to assist them on the ground.

Airman Pitsenbarger went down the hoist carrying a medical bag, a supply of splints and his rifle and pistol. He promptly organized and sped the evacuation of nine Soldiers.

In normal circumstances, a pararescueman returns to the helicopter and accompanies the wounded to the nearest medical facility. However, Airman Pitsenbarger selflessly chose to stay behind and help the besieged Soldiers.

Shortly after the Airman hit the ground the firefight grew too intense for the helicopters to rescue wounded Soldiers or Airman Pitsenbarger.

Despite the knowledge that no rescue was coming, Airman Pitsenbarger continued to respond to cries for 'medic' and care for wounded Soldiers as night descended upon the besieged warriors. Besides acting as a medic the pararescueman also distributed ammunition to the Soldiers holding the line.

During the night, the Viet Cong withdrew from the battle and U.S. forces were able to recover survivors and the fallen the next morning. The infantry unit that Airman Pitsenbarger fought along side suffered an 80 percent casualty rate. Among the deceased was Airman Pitsenbarger.

On June 30, 1966, Airman Pitsenbarger was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross for coordinating the successful rescues, caring for the wounded and exposing himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground to save the lives of wounded infantrymen.

On Dec. 8, 2000, Airman Pitzenbarger's Air Force Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his family in a ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Museum.

Airman Pitsenbarger is the 59th Medal of Honor recipient, and sixth enlisted recipient, from the Air Force and its predecessor organizations. 

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