The U.S. military first employed combat helicopters in WWII, to extract downed flight crews. The Korean War saw an increased role for helicopters, most notably in medical evacuations. But “choppers” truly came of age as tactical fighting machines during the Vietnam War — in fact, Vietnam is often referred to as “the helicopter war.”

Overview

Moving troops from one place to another is a logistical imperative of combat — the most prepared fighters with the most advanced weapons are ineffective if they can’t get to the fight. Because Vietnam lacked a developed network of roads, its jungles and mountains were particularly difficult to access. Helicopters could move service members and supplies quickly, even to remote locations.

The helicopter’s potential in combat was not so much determined as it was discovered. “For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers,” writes Donald Porter in Air & Space. “Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently.”

All branches of the military used helicopters in Vietnam, for a range of purposes — movement of troops and supplies, medical evacuations (commonly called “Dustoff” missions), scouting, and providing air support for troops on the ground. The variety of roles bred a variety of helicopters, the most famous being the Army’s UH-1 “Iroquois” (widely known as the “Huey”), which logged more than 10 million flight hours in Vietnam and is pictured on the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and Crewmember Monument in Arlington National Cemetery. The “Huey” remains one of the most recognized symbols of the conflict.

Overall, the U.S. military used nearly 12,000 helicopters in Vietnam, of which more than 5,000 were destroyed. To be a helicopter pilot or crew member was among the most dangerous jobs in the war.

Nearly 5,000 helicopter pilots and crewmembers lost their lives conducting aerial operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. On April 18, 2018, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and Crewmember Monument was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery.

Vietnam has been called America’s “Helicopter War” because helicopters provided mobility throughout the war zone, facilitating rapid troop transport, close air support, resupply, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and search and rescue capabilities. The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) spearheaded the effort for the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot and Crewmember Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. They estimate that over 100,000 helicopter pilots and crew members served during the Vietnam War. Helicopters were used in more than 850,000 medical evacuation missions and were responsible for boosting survival rates for the wounded.

The Vietnam Helicopters Memorial Tree was dedicated in 2015 and honors the helicopter pilots and crew members who died while serving in Southeast Asia from 1961 to 1975. More than 300 helicopter pilots and crewmembers are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

U.S. Air Force A1C William ‘Pits’ Pitsenbarger was an Air Force pararescue medic who completed more than 300 missions in Vietnam. He was 21 years old when he lost his life, but he is remembered for how honorably and selflessly he lived.

On April 11, 1966, a call came to help 134 men of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.  The soldiers were surrounded by a battalion of Viet Cong troops near Cam My, Vietnam. The company was pinned down and casualties were mounting. Pits joined the rescue efforts after Detachment 6 of the USAF’s 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron received a call to help evacuate the wounded.

Pits volunteered to be lowered down to hoist the wounded, where they would then be sent to a nearby airfield. He helped organize the rescue efforts and was able to pull out nine soldiers. When Pits had the option to leave with the helicopter, he elected to stay and care for the wounded and dying – all while under fire. The fighting grew intense and went into the night. He gathered weapons and ammunition from the dead, and continued to look after the wounded until he was killed.  Charlie Company suffered a devastating 80% casualties.

For his actions, Pits was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross. It wasn’t until surviving comrades and eyewitnesses put in requests and testimonies for an upgrade, that it was granted. It took 34 years before the Medal of Honor recommendation came to fruition – and his parents accepted the award on his behalf on Dec. 8, 2000.

Medal of Honor Citation: Airman First Class Pitsenbarger 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 Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an ongoing firefight between elements of the United States Army’s 1st Infantry Division and a sizeable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger 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 was recovered, Airman Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get more wounded soldiers 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 Pitsenbarger 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 Pitsenbarger 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 that followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and Airman Pitsenbarger was fatally wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen.

His story is also told in the film, “The Last Full Measure.”

The name of William Pitsenbarger is inscribed on Panel 6E, Line 102 of The Wall.