THE COMBAT MEDIC WHO REFUSED HIS OWN EVACUATION
William H. Pitsenbarger was an NCO and a PJ (pararescue jumper) with the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. With the 38th Rescue Squadron he flew close to 300 rescue missions, including one in which he treated a wounded Vietnamese man in the middle of a burning minefield while hanging from the hoist cable of the rescue helicopter.
His superior described him as “a different breed. Always alert and ready for a mission.” On April 11, 1966, two of the squadron’s helicopters were called to the Battle of Xa Cam My, a bloody fight that would end with 80% casualties on the American side. Once over Cam My, Pitsenbarger went down on the hoist to organize the evacuation of the wounded and provide first aid. After the first 6 casualties had been lifted out, one of the helicopters was hit by small arms fire. When the crew tried to pick up Pitsenbarger, who was still on the ground, so they could fly back to base with their heavy damage, he waved them off. He wanted to stay with the wounded. Because of the heavy enemy fire, that was his last contact with friendly forces from outside.
For the next 90 minutes he treated the growing number of wounded, improvised medical supplies from plants and collected ammunition for the men still able to fight. As the enemy closed in and the American position grew more hopeless, he joined the fight himself. Despite tear gas and artillery, the Viet Cong kept breaking through the thin American lines and going after the wounded. Pitsenbarger was killed during the night by an enemy sniper. They found him in the morning, his rifle still in one hand and his medical kit in the other.
Pitsenbarger was immediately put forward for a posthumous Medal of Honor, but with the reports missing he was awarded the Air Force Cross instead. After a fresh review, the award was upgraded 35 years later to the Medal of Honor he had earned.
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