Posted on 10/30/2016 7:33:29 AM PDT by oh8eleven
Lance Corporal Pittman grabbed a machine gun and belts of extra ammunition and rushed ahead, firing into the enemy position. He destroyed two enemy automatic weapons and kept advancing, into what the Medal of Honor citation described as “a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire” to reach wounded Marines 50 yards up the trail.
“As he reached the position where the leading Marines had fallen, he was suddenly confronted with a bold frontal attack by 30 to 40 enemy,” the citation continued. “Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire.”
When his machine gun failed, he kept firing with a Vietnamese submachine gun and a pistol. When he ran out of ammunition, he threw a grenade, his last remaining weapon, at the retreating North Vietnamese soldiers, and then returned to his platoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I refuse to click on a NYT story. Was this during the battle of the Ia Drang?
Marines, likely not, more like up in I corps somewhere.
I also will not click on a Slimes link.
The only reason the Slimes run this is to celebrate his passing. They neither love or promote the
culture of patriotism and warriorship that evolved Pitman.
He was a great, great man, with a huge heart for his brothers
and for all humankind.
Took place July 24, 1966 up near the DMZ. Probably part of the battle around Dong Ha.
The Marines were not at Ia Drang. “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young” were soldiers of that battle.
Good point. That was 1st Cav. My mistake.
Thank you for your Service and Sacrifices Sergeant. May you Rest in Peace. I would have been honored to serve with you.
Thank you and RIP, sir.
You are so correct.
I have seen actual, real heroes pass with virtually no mention, while some no-account singer or actor gets front page headlines when the decide to dump one sex partner and grab another. It is disgusting.
RIP, Marine.
Interestingly, if the young man standing next to President Johnson is Pittman, he is wearing an Army uniform, not the Marine Corps. Just wondering if the NY newspaper is accurate.
Marine Sgt. Richard Pittmman shall be immortal.
All rise and give honors.
An American hero has passed.
Semper fi, Marine.
America has been blessed by her great number of heroes.
RIP, Marine.
These are the kind of men that make America great. Not the cry-babies seaking out hidy holes from differences of opinion.
The whole picture.
One from each service.
FILE - In this May 14, 1968 file photo, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, right, poses at the White House with four winners of the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor. Decorated for valor in Vietnam, they are, from left: Air Force Capt. Gerald O. Young, of Anacortes, Wash.; Navy Bosn”s Mate James E. Williams, of Rock Hill, S.C.; Marine Sgt. Richard A. Pittman, of Stockton, Calif., and Army Spc. 5 Charles C. Hagmeister, of Lincoln, Neb. Others are unidentified
https://gma.yahoo.com/veterans-respond-court-overturning-lying-law-160849565.html
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