On November 29th. 1967 while being deployed along the Dong Nai river.Pfc. Pittman alerted Col, Schroeder who was in a bubble chopper that there were 2 VC in holes along the river bank. Pittman and other men started to fire at the VC who had retreated into the holes they could not elevate their weapons sufficiently to hit Col. Schroeder. Pfc. Pittman jumped down the river bank and sprayed the area with his M-16 killing 2 more VC he signaled the Col. to indicate the VC were dead. The Col. saw Pittman stiffenand he knew he was hit. He then observed Doc. Hauer strip his web gear and M-16 and jump in the river to help Pittman and stabalize his wounds. The evac chopper tried to come down and extract Pittman but the blades were nicking the edge of the bank. Several more men jumped to help Doc. Hauer, they moved Pittman to the middle of the heavy current and hoisted Pittman with help from the evac. crew. Pittman was later flown to Japan for extensive treatment as he was paralyzed from the waist down. For this action James Pittman and George Hauer deserve the recognition they have recieved.

Col. Schroeder and his wife Joan starting the ceremony