MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) –
"That Others May Live" depicts the Vietnam rescue mission that involved and took the life of Airman 1st Class William Pitsenbarger.
That is the motto for which a 21-year-old Air Force pararescuman gave his life 42 years ago.
A painting depicting Airman Pitsenbarger's actions was dedicated at the Gunter NCO Academy April 11.
His actions ultimately led to his receiving the Medal of Honor.
Airman Pitsenbarger was lowered into a jungle near Cam My, Vietnam, April 11, 1966, and he saved the lives of nine Army infantrymen before being killed in a firefight. He had the opportunity to leave the area on his damaged helicopter but refused to abandon other wounded Soldiers he was treating on the jungle ground.
Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar, who emceed the ceremony at the academy, said the newest painting completes a series of six paintings honoring Air Force enlisted members who have received the Medal of Honor. He noted the paintings are now part of the Air Force art collection and will receive high visibility in their new location in the Old South Room at Gunter's Falcon's Nest.
The chief said Airman Pitsenbarger's actions initially earned him the Air Force Cross, but through the efforts of the Army, the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Enlisted Heritage Hall museum, the decoration was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
"This painting, along with the other five Medal of Honor paintings, will forever be held as a part of our Air Force History," Chief McVicar said. "Exactly 42 years ago today, Airman Pitsenbarger gave his all to save the lives of Army casualties on the ground."
The chief said British painter Keith Hill did the original five paintings in the early 1990s, but at the time Airman Pitsenbarger's medal had not yet been upgraded. Mr. Hill agreed to do the latest painting, and he reduced his fee from $7,000 to $1,000. He added that efforts of Airmen at Elmendorf led by Master Sgt. David Wolfe, made the sixth painting possible.
"I wish to personally thank the Airmen at Elmendorf, their Professional Military Education Center, the Elmendorf NCO Academy Class of 07-02, the academy's Airman Leadership School, and of course Sergeant Wolfe, for their efforts," Chief McVicar said.
Sergeant Wolfe said he began the project because he felt badly that Airman Pitsenbarger was not being honored as an enlisted Medal of Honor recipient. His original project involved having a litho done to accompany lithos of the other five paintings on display at the Elmendorf NCO Academy.
"The litho didn't really satisfy us, so I decided to check and see if Mr. Hill was still (available)," he said. "He ... had a Web site, so I contacted him in 2006, and he agreed to do the sixth painting."
Sergeant Wolfe said once he had that information, he and other class members began a fund drive to raise the needed money, and that led to the painting being completed for display at the Falcon's Nest.
"The road to making this sixth painting a reality was not short nor was it easy," Chief McVicar said. "We owe a great deal of gratitude to Sergeant Wolfe for making this painting a reality."