Richard A. Pittman’s Unyielding Valor in Vietnam

On July 24, 1966, Richard A. Pittman, then a Lance Corporal with the First Platoon, Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, took part in a combat operation near the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Vietnam. As Company I advanced along a narrow jungle trail, they were ambushed by a concealed, larger enemy force, resulting in significant casualties among the leading Marines.

Upon hearing calls for additional firepower, Pittman immediately swapped his rifle for a machine gun and ammunition belts, left the cover of his platoon, and advanced alone toward his comrades under heavy fire. Despite coming under point-blank small-arms fire, he returned fire, silencing the enemy positions. Pressing forward, Pittman encountered and destroyed two more automatic weapons. Learning that more wounded Marines lay further along the trail, he advanced through intense mortar and small-arms fire to reach them.

When confronted by an advancing enemy force of 30 to 40 soldiers, Pittman took a stand in the middle of the trail and delivered intense machine-gun fire, halting the attack. When his weapon became inoperable, he seized a submachine gun and a pistol from a fallen Marine, continuing to fight until the enemy retreated. With only a grenade remaining, he threw it at the withdrawing enemy before rejoining his platoon.

Sergeant Pittman’s courageous actions, fighting spirit, and selfless commitment inflicted heavy enemy casualties, disrupted their attack, and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades.