AIRMAN First Class (A1C) William Hart Pitsenbarger, Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) lowered onto a roadway after an extraction of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldier from a burning minefield at Bien-Hoa Air Base for immediate medical attention

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

[Complete] Scene Caption: AIRMAN First Class (A1C) William Hart Pitsenbarger, Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS) lowered onto a roadway after an extraction of an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldier from a burning minefield at Bien-Hoa Air Base for immediate medical attention. The soldier lost a foot when he stepped on a landmine. Nobody could figure out how to extract the wounded soldier without tripping the mines. A1C Pitsenbarger said, "No problem, just lower me down on the penetrator, Ill straddle the guy, pick him up, and then you can lift me up." Risky as everyone knew that the prop wash could also setoff the mines. A1C Pitsenbarger earned the Airmans Medal and Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and the Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm for this action.

Base: Bien Hoa Air Base

Country: Republic Of Vietnam (RVN)

Scene Camera Operator: Ray Schmid (3aps)

Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files