2:2 "Jolly Green Footprint"

I can remember some time ago at Incirlik AB, Turkey, standing on the second floor of the billeting breezeway and looking up at this smoke stack from the boiler room building. Wondering what in the hell those two green footprints were about three-quarters of the way up the stack and how did they get there. About a week later, I found myself having a few beers on the first floor with some HC-130 guys one night, and I asked them the question. "Hey, what are those footprints up there?" I thought to myself in the seconds/minutes after the question was posed, maybe I should have asked my fellow crewmembers.

Yes, I got razzed. I ended up having beers with them my entire rotation and they invited me for a flight with them—one that I’ll never forget. “Those footprints my friend are part of a long tradition dating back to the AF Pararescue days of Vietnam,” said this old MSgt. “It is the sign of the PJ.” When the concept for the footprint was born, the idea was to affix it somewhere unusual, somewhere to gain attention-to command awe-when displayed. That footprint did just that! I wondered for a week, “who would want to become a PJ?”

Well, who really becomes a PJ is a very easy question to answer now, and this is who a PJ is:

Airman First Class “x” distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 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 “x”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 “x” 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, “x” 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 “x” 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 “x” 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 “x” was finally fatally wounded.

Airman “x” 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.

“x” is Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 08 December 2000, at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio to his surviving Mother and Father. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. With almost 100% certainty, every PJ, if called to do so, follows the same code that A1C Pitsenbarger followed. This code, a badge of honor is as follows:

“IT IS MY DUTY AS A PARARESCUEMAN TO SAVE LIFE AND TO AID THE INJURED. I WILL BE PREPARED AT ALL TIMES TO PERFORM MY ASSIGNED DUTIES QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, PLACING THESE DUTIES BEFORE PERSONAL DESIRES AND COMFORTS.

THESE THINGS I DO,

THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.”

The Secretary of the Air Force General Norton Scwartz announced in a recent briefing that “our Air Force was deeply saddened by the loss of four of our own,” 09 June 2010 was the bloodiest day for the Air Force in Afghanistan since 23 Nov 2003, when four Airmen were killed in a helicopter crash in Parwan Province. The HH60G on 09 June, was providing support for British Troops and was shot down by Taliban insurgents--were performing a med-evac mission. Three Airmen were also injured and are being treated at Landstuhl, Germany. The four killed are:

1^st Lt. Joel C. Gentz, 25, of Grass Lake, Michigan

Combat Rescue Officer, 58^th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada

SSgt David C. Smith, 26, of Eight Mile, Alabama

HH60G Flight Engineer, 66^th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada

TSgt Michael P. Flores, 31, of San Antonio, Texas

Pararescueman, 48^th Rescue Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona

Distinguished Flying Cross, 9^th Deployment

SrA Benjamin D. White, 24, of Erwin, Tennessee

Pararescueman, 48^th Rescue Squadron, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona

1^st Deployment

This short blog is in honor to the men that passed last week, accomplishing one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs in the US Air Force. Your commitment and sacrifice is well respected by the person behind these words—I mourn your loss and appreciate your gift. Salute.