Memorial Day and remembering the fallen

At the beginning of the 2004 film Troy, the mighty warrior Achilles makes it clear he fights because he wants his name to be remembered forever.  That may be good movie making but it is not why the men and women we honor on Memorial Day made the ultimate sacrifice.

During the almost 300 rescue missions that Airman First Class William Pitsenbarger, a pararescueman took part in during the Vietnam War, he didn't worry about glory or being remembered.  He wanted to save lives and he did.  Here is the citation for the Medal of Honor he received, posthumously.

Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on April 11, 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an on-going firefight between elements of the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division and a sizable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. 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 were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier 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. 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, pull 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 which followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and airman Pitsenbarger was finally fatally wounded. 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 military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.

While he did not survive this combat action, nine other men did, at least partly due to his heroism.

In November of 1941, before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Sadao Munemori volunteered to serve in the U. S. Army.   At the time he was 19 and a U. S. citizen by birth.  He was removed from combat training and assigned to menial labor while his parents were interned at Manzanar.  He volunteered again in March of 1943 when Japanese-Americans were allowed to enlist.  His Medal of Honor citation also shows ho he saved the lives of others.

He fought with great gallantry and intrepidity near Seravezza, Italy. When his unit was pinned down by grazing fire from the enemy's strong mountain defense and command of the squad devolved on him with the wounding of its regular leader, he made frontal, l-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out 2 machineguns with grenades Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by 2 of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body. By his swift, supremely heroic action Pfc. Munemori saved 2 of his men at the cost of his own life and did much to clear the path for his company's victorious advance.

But Memorial Day is not a holiday for only those whose exploits on the battlefield were recognized like those of A1C Pitsenbarger and PFC Munemori.  On this day we recognize every man and woman who died while serving in our Armed Forces.  Including those of Richard Fitzgibbon, Jr., Charles McMahon and Darwin Lee Judge; the first and last casualties of the Vietnam War (McMahon and Judge were both killed on 4/29/1975 in a rocket attack).

It is the for the 220 Marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers killed in Beirut in the 1983 bombing.  The 248 members of the 101st Airborne Division who died in a plane crash at Gander.  The six members of the crew of Swan 38, a WC-130 aircraft that was lost while on a weather reconnaissance mission in 1974.  Their plane disappeared as it flew into the eye of Typhoon Bess.

 

 

 

 There are too many such incidents to list.  To every man and woman who made that ultimate sacrifice, I thank you.  You did not die in vain.