EHH unveils ‘Pedro’ helicopter memorial

Published April 30, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Brannen Parrish
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Officials from the Enlisted Heritage Research Institute's Enlisted Heritage Hall recently unveiled a monument honoring the Airmen who piloted, flew in and maintained the HH-43 Huskie helicopter.

The Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association, an organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the memory of those connected with the HH-43, paid for the black obelisk memorial unveiled last week.

The helicopter, which was utilized by the Air Force throughout the 1960s for combat search and rescue missions as well as aerial firefighting, was initially called the Huskie but the call-sign "Pedro" eventually caught on.

Pedro Association members wanted the monument at the EHH at Gunter Annex because of the significant contribution of enlisted associated with the aircraft and because of the Heritage Hall's commitment to enlisted history.

"The majority of the men who served on board the helicopter were enlisted and many of the pilots were prior enlisted, so we felt the EHH was the best place for the monument," said Len Shults, a retired senior master sergeant who served aboard the Pedro Rescue helicopter and member of the Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association. "The EHH is an important place for the history of the enlisted person."

Perhaps the most well-known Pedro crewmember was Airman First Class William H. Pitsenbarger, who voluntarily lowered himself from an HH-43 into a firefight between an Army unit, C Company, 16th Infantry, and Viet Cong guerrillas on April 11, 1966. During the battle, Airman Pitsenbarger was killed providing medical assistance to wounded soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross and the Medal of Honor for his actions. The monument bears Pitsenbarger's likeness in honor of his service.

Henry "Harry" O'Beirne, who served with and befriended Airman Pitsenbarger at Ben Hoa during the Vietnam War, said the memorial represents one of many tributes to the Airman.

"It's a good tribute to him," said Mr. O'Beirne, "There are several memorials around the country but this is particularly fitting because he was a Pedro pararescueman. I think he would be pleased with it."