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On this 4th of July, I would like to mention and honor a true Wichita State University HERO and personal friend. No, he never earned All American honors, nor to my knowledge, he never lettered in any sports.
On many of our holidays we rightfully so pay tribute to those who have not only served, but we specifically honor those who gave their all for their country and for the men they served with.
I first meant Leroy (he went by his middle name) in 1956 in our ROTC class and even as an 18 year old Freshman, he stood out from all the rest of us as a true leader.
Riley Leroy Pitts was from Oklahoma. He attended and graduated from (then) Wichita University in June 1960. He jointly was commissioned and entered active duty as an Army Second Lieutenant. Soon thereafter he married and prior to being assigned to Vietnam in 1966, he was the proud father of a daughter and son.
The following is from official US Army files: "In December 1966, Captain Pitts was deployed to Vietnam and served as commander of C Company, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. On October 31, 1967, just one month before he was to be rotated back home, his unit was called upon to reinforce another company heavily engaged against a strong enemy force.
After his company landed in an airmobile assault, several Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons. Captain Pitts led an assault which overran the enemy positions and was then ordered to move north to reinforce another company engaged against a strong enemy force. As his company moved forward intense fire was received from three directions, including four bunkers, two of which were within 15 meters of his position. His rifle fire proving ineffective against the enemy due to the dense foliage, Pitts picked up an M79 grenade launcher and began pinpointing the targets. Seizing a grenade taken from a captured Viet Cong's web gear, he lobbed it at a bunker to his front but it hit the foliage and rebounded. Without hesitation, Pitts threw himself on top of the grenade which, fortunately, failed to explode. He then directed the repositioning of the company to permit friendly artillery to be fired. Upon completion of the fire mission, he again led his men toward the enemy positions, personally killing at least one more Viet Cong. Displaying complete disregard for his personal safety, he maintained continuous fire, pinpointing the enemy's fortified positions, while at the same time directing and urging his men forward, until he was mortally wounded."
Leroy was the first African American commissioned officer to receive the Medal of Honor. The medal was presented posthumously by President Lyndon Johnson on December 10, 1968, with Mrs Pitts, his children, and his parents in attendance.
On many of our holidays we rightfully so pay tribute to those who have not only served, but we specifically honor those who gave their all for their country and for the men they served with.
I first meant Leroy (he went by his middle name) in 1956 in our ROTC class and even as an 18 year old Freshman, he stood out from all the rest of us as a true leader.
Riley Leroy Pitts was from Oklahoma. He attended and graduated from (then) Wichita University in June 1960. He jointly was commissioned and entered active duty as an Army Second Lieutenant. Soon thereafter he married and prior to being assigned to Vietnam in 1966, he was the proud father of a daughter and son.
The following is from official US Army files: "In December 1966, Captain Pitts was deployed to Vietnam and served as commander of C Company, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. On October 31, 1967, just one month before he was to be rotated back home, his unit was called upon to reinforce another company heavily engaged against a strong enemy force.
After his company landed in an airmobile assault, several Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons. Captain Pitts led an assault which overran the enemy positions and was then ordered to move north to reinforce another company engaged against a strong enemy force. As his company moved forward intense fire was received from three directions, including four bunkers, two of which were within 15 meters of his position. His rifle fire proving ineffective against the enemy due to the dense foliage, Pitts picked up an M79 grenade launcher and began pinpointing the targets. Seizing a grenade taken from a captured Viet Cong's web gear, he lobbed it at a bunker to his front but it hit the foliage and rebounded. Without hesitation, Pitts threw himself on top of the grenade which, fortunately, failed to explode. He then directed the repositioning of the company to permit friendly artillery to be fired. Upon completion of the fire mission, he again led his men toward the enemy positions, personally killing at least one more Viet Cong. Displaying complete disregard for his personal safety, he maintained continuous fire, pinpointing the enemy's fortified positions, while at the same time directing and urging his men forward, until he was mortally wounded."
Leroy was the first African American commissioned officer to receive the Medal of Honor. The medal was presented posthumously by President Lyndon Johnson on December 10, 1968, with Mrs Pitts, his children, and his parents in attendance.
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