National War Memorial Registry, War Memorial Catalog Of United States

SGT. PITTMAN VOLUNTEERED TO LEAD HIS SQUAD IN A COUNTER ATTACK TO REGAIN COMMANDING TERRAIN LOST IN AN EARLIER ENGAGEMENT. MOVING AGGRESSIVELY FORWARD IN THE FACE OF INTENSE ARTILLERY, MORTAR, AND SMALL-ARMS FIRE HE WAS WOUNDED BY MORTAR FRAGMENTS. DISREGARDING HIS WOUNDS HE CONTINUED TO LEAD AND DIRECT HIS MEN IN A BOLD ADVANCE AGAINST THE HOSTILE STANDPOINT. DURING THIS DARING ACTION, AN ENEMY GRENADE WAS THROWN IN THE MIDST OF HIS SQUAD. WITHOUT HESITATION, SGT. PITTMAN THREW HIMSELF ON GRENADE AND ABSORBED ITS BURST WITH HIS BODY. SGT. PITTMAN'S EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM REFLECTS THE HIGHEST CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND IS IN KEEPING WITH THE ESTEEMED TRADITION OF THE MILITARY SERVICE