Profiles of Valor: SSgt William Pitsenbarger (USAF)

Pitsenbarger’s PJ qualification began with extensive training at the Army Airborne School, the Navy Dive School, and then survival schools. He then completed an intensive rescue and survival medical course, followed by Air Force rescue training and jungle-survival schools. His final courses were in air crash rescue and firefighting.

A1C Pitsenbarger was one of the first Airmen to qualify for Pararescue right out of basic training and was assigned to a Rescue Squadron stationed at Hamilton AFB, California.
Pitsenbarger would fly almost 300 rescue missions to aid soldiers and downed pilots, one of which involved hanging from his HH-43’s cable above a burning minefield in order to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier. That heroic action earned him the Airman’s Medal and the Republic of Vietnam’s Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross.
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 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.
His citation continues:
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, pulled 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 that followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and Airman Pitsenbarger was fatally wounded.

His citation concludes: “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 the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.”