Name: Airman First Class William Hart Pitsenbarger

Date of Birth: July 8, 1944

Home of Record: Piqua, Ohio

Date of Casualty: April 11, 1966

Age at Loss: 21 years old

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
Wall Panel 06E - Row 102

Detachment #6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron
Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of South Vietnam

Aircraft Model: HH-43F

Aircraft Tail Number:

Call Sign: Pedro 73

INCIDENT SUMMARY

A1C Pitsenbarger and his crew were on a MEDEVAC mission to rescue Army wounded from a firefight approximately 33 miles southeast of Bien Hoa. Because of the dense jungle at the scene, the helicopter could not land and Pitsenbarger was lowered to the ground to attend to the wounded. After transporting a load of wounded men to Binh Ba, Pedro 73 returned to the scene to evacuate more wounded. Pedro 73 began taking heavy ground fire, was seriously damaged and had to break away. The enemy ground fire was so intense that helicopters could not return until the next day.

Pitsenbarger remained on the ground administering aid to the wounded. The Viet Cong continue to mortar the unit and they were eventually overrun. A1C Pitsenbarger was killed. His body was recovered the next day.