by Barbara Latta
 |
| Many heroes have given their lives for others. |
Heroes saved many lives during all the wars and conflicts
fought during the life of the United States. So many lie unknown, but their
acts of valor preserved freedom and the life of their comrades.
One of the unknown stories is of Airman 1st Class
William H. Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Para rescue and medical specialist from
Piqua, Ohio who served during the Vietnam War. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger,
known as Pit to his comrades, left the safety of a helicopter to descend into a
jungle under intense fire to treat and care for wounded Army soldiers of
Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st
Infantry Division. After landing, Pitsenbarger ministered first aid to those he
could find and dragged men behind trees and logs to get them out of the line of
fire. He placed those who could be evacuated into wire baskets while others
were ducking for cover. He refused to be evacuated himself several times. For
two hours he crawled through dense jungle looking for wounded.
