FREEDOM HAS A FACE
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Gifts of Gratitude
    • Memorial Site
  • News and Events
    • FHAF News
    • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate
    • Ways to Support FHAF
  • Gifts of Gratitude

The Freedom Minute

​Take a minute out of your day to read accounts of some of the most heroic, highly decorated Americas from current U.S. conflicts back to the Civil War. Their selfless acts of courage and duty protecting the freedom we enjoy are awe-inspiring.    

​PITTMAN, RICHARD A.

12/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Rank and Organization: Sergeant (then L/Cpl.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Place and Date: near the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 24 July 1966. Date of Issue: 05/14/1968

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 

While Company 1 was conducting an operation along the axis of a narrow jungle trail, the leading company elements suffered numerous casualties when they suddenly came under heavy fire from a well concealed and numerically superior enemy force. Hearing the engaged marines' calls for more firepower, Sgt. Pittman quickly exchanged his rifle for a machinegun and several belts of ammunition, left the relative safety of his platoon, and unhesitatingly rushed forward to aid his comrades. Taken under intense enemy small-arms fire at point blank range during his advance, he returned the fire, silencing the enemy position. As Sgt. Pittman continued to forge forward to aid members of the leading platoon, he again came under heavy fire from 2 automatic weapons which he promptly destroyed. 

Learning that there were additional wounded marines 50 yards further along the trail, he braved a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire to continue onward. 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. Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire. 

His weapon rendered ineffective, he picked up an enemy sub-machinegun and, together with a pistol seized from a fallen comrade, continued his lethal fire until the enemy force had withdrawn. Having exhausted his ammunition except for a grenade which he hurled at the enemy, he then rejoined his platoon. Sgt. Pittman's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades. His personal valor at grave risk to himself reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ​Conflict​

    All
    Afghanistan
    Civil War
    Iraq
    Korean War
    Somalia
    Vietnam War
    World War I
    World War II

    Date

    February 2018
    December 2017

    RSS Feed

Picture

FREEDOM HAS A FACE

Freedom Has a Face inspires and connects individuals of this great nation with those killed-in-action and their families by forming “community” through diverse forms of media and technology. 

Contact Us

FHAF Memorial Wall
EMAIL US
​Copyright 2018 |  Freedom Has a Face
Website Design by Team Kimes Design
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Gifts of Gratitude
    • Memorial Site
  • News and Events
    • FHAF News
    • Events
  • Contact
  • Donate
    • Ways to Support FHAF
  • Gifts of Gratitude