[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL WILLIAM F. PITTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 18, 2009

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a hero from my 
congressional district, Lieutenant General William F. Pitts. Today, I 
ask that the House of Representatives honor and remember this 
incredible man who dedicated his life in service to our country. On 
Tuesday, December 30, 2008, Lt. Gen. Pitts passed away at the age of 
89.
  Lt. Gen. Pitt's father was a career military officer, and Lt. Gen. 
Pitts was born at March Field Hospital, located in Riverside, 
California, on Thanksgiving Day 1919. When he was 10 years old, Lt. 
Gen. Pitts took his first airplane ride and vowed to become an Air 
Force pilot. In 1943, he graduated from West Point and flew 25 World 
War II missions against Japan in a B-29 Superfortress. In his last 
mission in the bomber, he was shot down off the coast of Japan but was 
able to parachute out of the plane and was rescued by a submarine.
  After Lt. Gen. Pitt's heroic service during World War II, he was 
steadily promoted and earned three stars. He served as a NATO commander 
in Turkey, four tours at the Pentagon and also as a diplomat in Cuba, 
Haiti, the Dominican Republic, England and Taiwan. In 1972, Lt. Gen. 
Pitts returned to March Air Force Base as the Commander of the 15th Air 
Force. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished 
Service Medal, Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster, Distinguished 
Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with three oak leaf 
clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the 
Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with one oak leaf cluster and the 
Purple Heart.
  In 1975, Lt. Gen. Pitts retired from the Air Force and he and his 
wife, Doris, made Riverside their permanent home in the 1990s. He was 
active in the March community during his retirement, helping to keep 
the base open during the Base Realignment and Closure process. In honor 
of his efforts, March erected a stone post at the parade grounds on the 
base. He was also a board member of the March Field Museum.
  On December 22, 2008, Lt. Gen. Pitts celebrated his 60th anniversary 
with his wife Doris. He is survived by his wife; daughters Cowgill, 
Alisha and Linda; sister Nanetta Atkinson; and four grandchildren.
  As we look at the incredibly rich military history of our country we 
realize that this history is comprised of men like Lt. Gen. Pitts who 
bravely fought for the ideals of freedom and democracy. Each story is 
unique and humbling for those of us who, far from the dangers they have 
faced, live our lives in relative comfort and ease. Lt. Gen. Pitts was 
a dear friend and above all, he was a patriot. He will be sorely missed 
but his legacy and service to our great nation will always be 
remembered.

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