William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 – April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots.
On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. Before his death, he helped save over 60 men in the battle. He was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
Early life and education
Pitsenbarger was born in 1944 to Irene and William Pitsenbarger. He grew up in Piqua, Ohio, a small town near Dayton. As a junior in high school, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, but his parents refused to give their permission. After he graduated from high school, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, and on New Year's Eve 1962, he was on a train bound for basic training in San Antonio.
During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. Training included the U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S Navy Dive School (SCUBA), survival school, and a rescue and survival medical course. More Air Force rescue training and jungle survival school followed. His final training was in air crash rescue and firefighting. He completed the requirements, and was one of the first group of airmen to qualify for Pararescue right out of basic training. After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California.
Vietnam War
Pitsenbarger was later sent on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Vietnam. 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. His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. His commander, Major Maurice Kessler, called him "One of a special breed. Alert and always ready to go on any mission."
Pitsenbarger completed more than 250 missions, including one in which he hung from an HH-43's cable to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier from a burning minefield. This action earned him the Airman's Medal and the Republic of Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.
Medal of Honor award
Soon after Pitsenbarger was killed, his Air Force commanders nominated him for the Medal of Honor. An Army general recommended that the award be downgraded to the Air Force Cross, apparently because at the time there was not enough documentation of Pitsenbarger's actions.
On December 8, 2000, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the airman's father, William F. Pitsenbarger, and his mother, Alice, accepted the Medal of Honor from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters. During the same ceremony he was also posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff sergeant. The audience included battle survivors, hundreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional representative and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force.
Pitsenbarger was the 59th Medal of Honor recipient, and sixth enlisted recipient, from the Air Force and its predecessor organizations.</blockquote>
Commendations
Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger has been awarded the following:
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!Badge
|colspan="12" |U.S. Air Force Enlisted Aircrew Badge
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!Badge
|colspan="12" |Senior Parachutist Badge
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!1st row
|colspan="4" |Medal of Honor <br />
|colspan="4" |Airman's Medal
|colspan="4"|Purple Heart
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!2nd row
|colspan="4"|Air Medal <br />
|colspan="4"|Air Medal <br />
|colspan="4"|Air Force Commendation Medal
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!3rd row
|colspan="4"|Air Force Outstanding Unit Award <br />
|colspan="4"|Air Force Good Conduct Medal
|colspan="4"|National Defense Service Medal
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!4th row
|colspan="4"|Vietnam Service Medal <br />
|colspan="4"| Air Force Longevity Service Award
|colspan="4"|Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
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!5th row
|colspan="4"|Military Merit Medal <br />
|colspan="4"|Vietnamese Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
|colspan="4"|Vietnam Campaign Medal <br />
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!Badge
|colspan="12"|U.S. Navy Scuba Diver Badge
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Honors and awards
Pitsenbarger was the first enlisted recipient of the Air Force Cross medal, receiving the award posthumously in 1966.
In addition to being designated Main Street through the city of Dayton—where the Wright Brothers designed their airplane—state route 48 also runs along Miami Memorial Park north of Covington, Ohio, where all but McDaniel are buried.
Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio, awards the Pitsenbarger Scholarship to two full-time students per year who can show financial need.
The drill team of the AFJROTC unit at Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg WV is known as the Pitsenbarger Rifles.
The Air & Space Forces Association awards a $750 Pitsenbarger scholarship to the top USAF enlisted personnel graduating from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) who plan to pursue a baccalaureate degree and submits a competitive award nomination package. In 2025, AFA introduced the Pitsenbarger "Full Measure Award" which recognizes past Pitsenbarger scholarship awardees winners with an additional grant of $3,000.
Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Award for 2012.
In popular culture
The 2019 film The Last Full Measure depicting Pitsenbarger's life stars Jeremy Irvine as Pitsenbarger.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War