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The actions of the men, women and/or organizations inducted into the Airlift/Tanker Hall of Fame and those awarded the 2012 coveted annual Airlift/Tanker Association Young Leadership Awards, Huyser Aircrew Awards, P.K. Carlton Award for Valor, Halvorsen Award, A / TA Specialized Mission Award, Fogleman ASAM Award , Key Spouse of Year Award, AFRC Outstanding Unit Award, and the ANG Outstanding Unit Award AWARDSall have exemplary records of performance detailing …extraordinary numerous instances of their outstanding proficiency and excellence – far too service to the extensive to fully cover in the pages of A/TQ. The examples used in each of Air Mobility Community, the following short biographical descriptions serve the United States Air Force only to highlight their extraordinary service to the Air Mobility Community, and Our Nation… the United States Air Force and Our Nation – A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2012 27 This year’s inductee into the Airlift/Tanker Hall of Fame distinguished himself through the highest valor and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor as a Pararescueman with the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS), Military Airlift Command (MAC). He has become the Air Force’s measure for valor and dedication above and beyond the call of duty. This recognition makes him the third enlisted member in the AlTA Hall of Fame and bestows recognition and honor upon the Air Force Rescue Service as a cherished part of air mobility mission history. For these achievements he has been designated the… 2012 AIRLIFT/TANKER ASSOCIATION – HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE – STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM H. PITSENBARGER William H. Pitsenbarger was born July 8, 1944 in Piqua, Ohio, thanks to his courage and devotion to duty. the son of William and Irene Pitsenbarger. Bill attended public On December 8, 2000, the airman’s father, William F. Pitsenbarg- schools in Piqua, participating in the Vocational Industrial Club, er, and his wife, Alice, accepted the Medal of Honor from Secretary intramural sports, and wrestling. He graduated in 1962 from of the Air Force, Whit Peters. During the same ceremony he was also Piqua High School and worked at the Kroger store until posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and enlisting in the United States Air Force December 31, was the first enlisted airman to receive both the Medal of 1963. When Bill was a junior in high school, he tried Honor and the Air Force Cross after death. to enlist in the Army as a Green Beret, but his par- The audience included battle survivors, hun- ents refused to give their permission. dreds of pararescue airmen, a congressional rep- After completing Pararescue training in 1965, resentative and the Air Force chief of staff. He Staff Sergeant Pitsenbarger received orders to is buried in Miami Memorial Park Cemetery report to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Covington, Ohio. Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. His unit was composed of five aircrews that flew three HH-43F Kaman Huskie heli- Staff Sergeant William H. Pitsenbarger self- copters. His commander, Maj. Maurice Kessler lessly gave his life to the Aerospace Rescue later said, “Pits was one of a special breed, alert and Recovery Service (ARRS) mission of Mili- and always ready to go on any mission.” tary Airlift Command (MAC) leaving a legacy While assigned to Air Rescue and Recovery of bravery that would reverberate, not only Service (ARRS), Military Airlift Command (MAC) throughout the United States Air Force, but he flew almost 300 rescue missions in Vietnam, as throughout militaries around the world. a Pararescue Jumper (PJ). He risked his life nearly daily during the war rescuing downed airmen and Leadership, Job Performance soldiers. But the 21-year-old, known as “Pits” to his and Noteworthy Accomplishments Air Force buddies, was killed while defending some of his SSgt Pitsenbarger began his leadership role by advising the wounded Army comrades. on-scene Air Rescue commander on the best and fastest way to pro- On April 11, 1966, tfie Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) vide rescue and medical support to members of U.S. 1st Infantry dispatched two Huskies from Detachment 6 to extract a half- Division, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. He determined he dozen or more Army casualties pinned down a few miles east of should be lowered to the ground versus work from a hovering heli- Saigon near Cam My. When they reached the site of the ambush, copter. SSgt Pitsenbarger assumed a major leadership role of an Army Pits was lowered through the tropical forest canopy to the ground Infantry Company when numerous leaders were wounded. Through where he provided aid to the wounded before having them lifted his leadership nine wounded were extracted and numerous wound- out by helicopter. After six wounded had been airlifted to an aid ed on the ground were treated and their lives were saved. station, the two Air Force helicopters returned for a second load. There was no communication between the Army troops on the When one helicopter lowered its litter basket to Pitsenbarger it ground and the Rescue crew in the helicopter, except hand signals, was hit by a burst of enemy small-arms fire. When the helicop- and extraction of the wounded was difficult and took too long. As ter’s engine began to lose power, the pilot knew they had to get the rescue crew completed the first extraction they flew the wound- away from the area as soon as possible. Instead of climbing into ed to medical aid at an Army hospital eight miles to the south. On the litter so he could leave with the helicopter, Pits elected to stay the second extraction Pitsenbarger determined that he could pro- on the ground and he gave a “wave-off” to the helicopter which vide better assistance to the Army troops with extractions if he was flew away. The helicopters didn’t return to rescue the PJ that day on the ground. He said to the aircraft commander, “Once I’m down because of heavy ground fire. there I can really help out, I can show those guys how to rig the Pitsenbarger continued to attend to wounded soldiers, making Stokes litter and load it right. It’ll be much faster and you can put splints out of snarled vines and building improvised stretchers. more people in the bird.” Pits gathered ammunition from the dead and distributed it to The helicopter crew wished Pitsenbarger good luck and the pi- those capable of fighting. Pitsenbarger. after being wounded three lot maneuvered the helicopter into the pickup hole as crew chief times, was finally killed by Viet Cong snipers later that night. strapped Pits onto the penetrator and disconnected his mike cord. Pitsenbarger didn’t escape alive, but nine other men did, partially The crew took their last glimpse of Pitsenbarger as the crew chief A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2012 28 TAFF ERGEANT ILLIAM H. ITSENBARGER MEDAL OF HONOR CITATIon – For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned 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 ongoing firefight between elements of the United States Army’s 1 st Infantry Division and sizeable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for his 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, pull them out of the line of fire, and return fire when 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 military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Air Force. A/TQ • Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2012 29 swung him out of the cabin. He was holding his medical kit, his His actions led to the change in training standards for aircrew and M-16 rifle, and an armful of splints.

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