SSG (r) Ryan M Pitts will receive the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony on 21 July 2014 for his valorous actions at the Battle of Wanat, Afghanistan on 13 July 2008. Ryan, a Forward Observer, was serving with the 173rd, 2-503d, Chosen Company during OEF VIII at the time the Battle of Wanat occurred.
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2014
President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor
On July 21, 2014, President Barack Obama will award Ryan M. Pitts, a former active duty Army Staff Sergeant, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Staff Sergeant Pitts will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as a Forward Observer with 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, during combat operations at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, in the vicinity of Wanat Village in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008.
Staff Sergeant Pitts will be the ninth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
Staff Sergeant Pitts separated from the service on October 27, 2009 from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He currently lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he works in business development for the computer software industry.
Staff Sergeant Pitts enlisted in the Army in August 2003 as a Fire Support Specialist (13F), primarily responsible for the intelligence activities of the Army’s field artillery team. After completion of training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and follow-on parachutist training at the U.S. Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Camp Ederle, Vicenza, Italy, as a radio operator with the 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade where he deployed to Afghanistan. His final assignment was with the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment "The Rock", 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Forward Observer which included a second combat tour to Afghanistan.
At the time of the July 13, 2008 combat engagement, then-Sergeant Pitts was a Forward Observer in 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment 173rd Airborne Brigade as part of Task Force Rock. His heroic actions were performed at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, in the vicinity of Wanat Village in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
His personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal w/ “V” Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Clasp and two Loops, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral “4”, NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Our nation lost nine brave Heroes that day.
1LT Jonathan Brostrom
SGT Israel Garcia
CPL Jonathan Ayers
CPL Jason Bogar
CPL Jason Hovator
CPL Matthew Phillips
CPL Pruitt Rainey
CPL Gunnar Zwilling
CPL Sergio Abad
Please go
to this link to read more about these American Heroes.
The internet will have written and video stories and interviews regarding Ryan's actions that day. I'd like to share with you a couple of other stories about Ryan that show his character and compassion.
I first met Ryan when he and several of his battle buddies were recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. I was privileged to spend time with them on several visits over the months that they were there.
In May 2009 Ryan flew from Washington, DC to Memphis, TN for two "missions".
One "mission" was to visit Evan Pertile who was a patient at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Evan wasn't having a particularly good day when we went to visit. His mother has told us not to expect to stay long or for Evan to be very full of life. Apparently Ryan was good medicine for Evan, though. The entire time we were there Evan was laughing and being a rambunctious little guy. It was beyond heart warming to watch Ryan and Evan interact.
You can read the entire story and see all of the photos of that "mission"
at this link. I am happy to say that Evan is still cancer free and doing well.
Evan warmed up to Ryan right away. Evan's mother was a bit stunned when Evan crawled right into Ryan's lap not long after we arrived.
Ryan showing Evan how to get the beret "just right"
Ryan helping Evan put his Paratrooper beret on for the first time
Ryan and Evan hanging out in Evan's room at the Target House near St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The other "mission" was to visit Lakeland Elementary School in Lakeland, TN to thank the students for sending $6000 worth of winter socks to the Sky Soldiers during their fifteen month deployment in 2007-2008. You can read the entire story
at this link but here are a few photos from the event:
Ryan speaking to the fifth grade assembly at Lakeland, TN elementary school
Ryan taking questions from the fifth grade students
Ryan signing yearbooks for some of the fifth grade students
Ryan spent an hour or more signing their yearbooks. It was such a joy to watch him with these young Americans. The interaction seemed so easy and normal.
It is beyond an honor to know Ryan and his wife Amy. Ryan will represent our nation, the Army and the ROCK (2-503d) with dignity and respect.
Additional Links:
NCO Journal
Boston Globe
Army Times
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