Captain Riley Pitts was the first African-American officer to receive the Medal of Honor. He led a fierce attack against Viet Cong guerillas (VC) in an attempt to rescue another American company. He had a degree in journalism, and had been an Army public affairs officer before being selected to lead a combat unit.
Landing in a Hot VC Zone
CPT Riley Pitts’ company was sent to reinforce another company on 31 October 1967. As soon as Pitts’ company landed they were attacked by VC automatic weapons. He and his company overran the first wave of attackers, but soon were taking new fire from three directions. When his rifle fire proved ineffective against the thick jungle covering, he grabbed a grenade launcher and began attacking the enemy bunkers with it.
He threw himself on [the grenade] to contain the blast and save his men, but it proved to be a dud.
CPT Pitts found a Chinese grenade and threw it at the bunker in front of him. It bounced off the foliage and rebounded back at him. He threw himself on it to contain the blast and save his men, but it proved to be a dud. Pitts then moved to an exposed position that allowed him to direct his fire more effectively at the enemy bunkers.
CPT Pitts was killed by enemy fire, but was able to save the lives of his men by killing the enemy attackers. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, in a White House ceremony attended by his wife (and childhood sweetheart), Eula Pitts; and their two children, Stacie (age 7) and Mark (age 5).
LBJ Honored CPT Riley Pitts
President Lyndon Johnson spoke at the Medal ceremony. “What this man did in an hour of incredible courage will live in the story of America as long as America endures – as he will live in the hearts and memories of those who loved him. He was a brave man and a leader of men. No greater thing could be said of any man.”
Captain Riley Pitts
Riley Pitts has had several places named after him, to honor his memory. They include the main street at the former U.S. Army base in Mannheim, Germany; a firing range at the U.S. Army base in Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and a classroom at Douglass High School, his Oklahoma City alma mater.
Citation
Captain Riley L. Pitts, Infantry, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as Company Commander of Company C, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, during an airmobile assault in the vicinity of Ap Dong, Republic of Vietnam, on 31 October 1967. Immediately after his company landed in the area, several Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons. Despite the enemy fire, Captain Pitts forcefully led an assault which overran the enemy positions. Shortly thereafter, Captain Pitts was ordered to move his unit to the north to reinforce another company heavily engaged against a strong enemy force. As Captain Pitts’ company moved forward to engage the enemy, intense fire was received from three directions, including fire from four enemy bunkers, two of which were within 15 meters of Captain Pitts’ position. The severity of the incoming fire prevented Captain Pitts from maneuvering his company. His rifle fire proving ineffective against the enemy due to the dense jungle foliage, he picked up an M-79 grenade launcher and began pinpointing the targets. Seizing a Chinese Communist grenade which had been taken from a captured Viet Cong’s web gear, Captain Pitts lobbed the grenade at a bunker to his front, but it hit the dense jungle foliage and rebounded. Without hesitation, Captain Pitts threw himself on top of the grenade which, fortunately, failed to explode. Captain Pitts then directed the repositioning of the company to permit friendly artillery to be fired. Upon completion of the artillery fire mission, Captain Pitts again led his men toward the enemy positions, personally killing at least one more Viet Cong. The jungle growth still prevented effective fire to be placed on the enemy bunkers. Captain Pitts, displaying complete disregard for his life and personal safety, quickly moved to a position which permitted him to place effective fire on the enemy. He maintained a continuous fire, pinpointing the enemy’s fortified positions, while at the same time directing and urging his men forward, until he was mortally wounded. Captain Pitts’ conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the armed forces of his country.
