11APR1966: Serving as a pararescueman in Vietnam, A1C William Pitsenbarger and his unit got a call that an American unit was under heavy fire and taking casualties in need of support. Arriving on scene, Pitsenbarger was lowered through the jungle canopy to assist in the medical treatment of the wounded. Under intense enemy fire, Pitsenbarger got to work. He treated casualty after casualty and began packaging them to be lifted to the waiting helicopters. After the first six had been evacuated, the helicopters left with a full load. As the aircraft was lowering it's basket, it came under intense enemy fire and had to pull out. The crew stayed overhead, telling Pitsenbarger to climb into the hoist to move out of the deadly battlefield. Instead, Pitsenbarger waved off the crew, opting to stay on the ground with the beleaguered unit. For the next few hours, Pitsenbarger alternated between fending off enemy attacks and treating and consolidating the wounded Americans. Despite being wounded three times, he continued to move out in the face of enemy fire to retrieve fallen Soldiers and pull them back into the relative safety of American lines. Throughout the battle, Pitsenbarger never stopped treating the wounded or doing anything else needed to help keep the men alive. Before the end of the battle, A1C William Pitsenbarger would be hit and killed by an enemy sniper. His selfless acts having saved countless american lives, Pitsenbarger would be awarded, posthumously, the Air Force Cross. After review, his award would be upgraded to the Medal of Honor and presented to his family in 2000.

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