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Listing Details



Location: SGT. JOHN A. PITTMAN DRIVE AND MEDALLION DRIVE

City: GREENWOOD

State: Mississippi

Zip Code: 38923

Year Dedicated: 2005-KESSLER-HAMRICK-GILLESPIE AMERICAN LEGION POST 29

Access: Public

Wars Commemorated: KOREAN WAR

Photograph By: DON MORFE


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


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