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U.S. Pararescue Veterans, known as PJs, gather in front of the William H. Pitsenbarger Memorial at Miami Memorial Park in Covington on Wednesday, Oct. 15, following its dedication. Some of the men served with Pitsenbarger in Vietnam, with some traveling as far as from Southern Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Michigan and West Virginia for the dedication. A reception followed at the Covington Eagles hosted by the PJ Pararescue Foundation, allowing the men and others to reconnect.
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| | * Memorial Dedication Photos | | * Memorial Dedication Program | | |
A couple of the Pararescuemen in attendance served with Bill Pitsenbarger in Vietnam, with one of them being the keynote speaker, CMSgt (ret.) Dave Milsten. He was there when Bill's remains were recovered and returned to base.
Prior to the dedication, Pararescuemen gathered at a local hotel and restaurant in Troy, OH, to reminisce (we call it hanger flying). Following the dedication, a reception followed at Covington Eagles, hosted by the Pararescue Foundation, allowing us and others to reconnect, meet Bill Pitsenbarger's high school classmates, his family friends, local officials, etc.
| | A Final Resting Place for PJs | | |
Miami Memorial Park has become a Mecca for Pararescue. I myself have visited the cemetery many times over the years. Last year I laid my good friend, Jim Norton, a Pararescueman to rest there after his unexpected death. Since Bill Pitsenbarger was laid to rest there, three other Pararescuemen were laid to rest there, with another planning to do the same when his time comes.
Pararescuemen currently resting in Miami Memorial Park cemetery are William H. Pitsenbarger, James R. Norton, William Thomas Large and William E. Eby.
| | USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway | |
On February 15, 2005, Senate Bill 156 designated Ohio State Route 48 as USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway. The Parkway honors the memory of all Pararescuemen who perished in the performance of their duties. It is also a tribute to the Air Rescue men and women who died so "That Others May Live." They made the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to save lives and provide aid to the injured, whether on training, civilian or combat missions. This selfless devotion is the finest example of Air Force Core Values: " Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do." Pararescuemen Sgt. Jim Locker, MSgt. Bill McDaniel, SSgt Bill Pitsenbarger and AIC Jim Pleiman were all killed in action while trying to save their fellow man. Remarkably, they all hail from this general area of Ohio, the heart of America. They, and the others, will never be forgotten.
Erected in 2006 by "The Valley of the Jolly Green Giants" and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-55.)
| | Pitsenbarger's 60th Anniversary | | |
Bill Pitsenbarger's 60th anniversary of his final mission is April 11, 2026. Bill arrived in Vietnam on August 1965, and completed more than 250 rescue mission before he made the ultimate sacrifice. He was 21 years old when he was killed in action on April 11, 1966.
Mark your calendar for April 10-11, 2026. The Brotherhood is looking into gathering in Ohio. I am speaking with others about an event in Covington, OH, and its surrounding area. More to follow.
| | Incase You Missed It. . . | | For those of you who missed it and those who subscribed after the first of the month, below is a link to October's Pararescue Brotherhood Newsletter. Enjoy! | | |
Pararescuemen, Pararescue Airmen or PJs if you will, come from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all races and cultures, all 50 states and from some allied countries. PJs are United States Air Force Special Warfare Airmen who conduct personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations missions for the U.S. military and its allies behind enemy lines, in hostel and contested areas around the world and in civilian communities.
As highly trained special operators, PJs generally work in small teams or attached to SEAL teams, Army Ranger units and Army Special Forces A teams. PJs also supported NASA missions, and have recovered astronauts after reentry, and supported astronaut rescue and recovery from Space Shuttles emergency reentries and open water ditching.
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This is the official newsletter of the Pararescue Brotherhood. It is self funded, developed and published for the Pararescue Brotherhood by a retired PJ. It was developed to replace and fill the void left by the PJ AIG when its intent changed. This Newsletter is a nonpartisan, apolitical, non-bias, non self-serving and non self-promoting newsletter for anyone and everyone, and it's free.
This newsletter is available free of charge to anyone - no membership, dues, etc., required. We have about 3000 subscribers; mostly PJs and a lot of CCT. We also have many TAC-Ps, sister service special operators, a lot of support personal, etc., and some future PJ along with some LEGs. Please, no posers (fake PJs).
If you have something you'd like to share with Brotherhood in this newsletter, pass something to the Brotherhood, share a special interest story, connect with a long-lost military Brother, promote a military event, etc., email me, the editor, at Jim@Morris.net with 'PJ Newsletter' in the subject line. All is subject to review.
Are you are a writer, artist, cartoonist, etc.? We will include your content subject to review. If you are a published author of something military related, something beneficial to the community, something about firearms, medical, etc., send us the information for review and we will help promote it.
| | HooYah! Airborne! Rescue! | | |
Disclaimer: The visual appearance or written content in this newsletter does not imply an endorsement.
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