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In Memory OfCPT Riley L. Pitts

October 15, 1937 - October 31, 1967

CPT Riley L. Pitts, 30, U.S. Army, born in Oklahoma October 15, 1937, was killed in action on October 31, 1967. Pitts was born to Theodore and Dorothy Pitts in Fallis, Oklahoma, a small, rural town of less than 200 people. Growing up in the post-Depression, segregated Midwest, he, his brother, Willard, and three sisters, Bertalene, Erma, and Helen, quickly learned the value of hard work, discipline, and a good education, and understood that these qualities were essential to success.

After high school, Pitts enrolled at Wichita State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. After graduating, he met the love of his life, Eula Mae, with whom he would have a daughter, Stacie, and a son, Mark. To support his new family, Pitts worked for Boeing Aviation before entering the Army in 1960. Through his completion of Wichita State University’s ROTC program, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.


With a background in journalism, his military career began as an Information Officer with the Public Affairs division at U.S. bases in Southwest Germany. He then requested a transfer to the Infantry and, after completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, became Commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division ("The Wolfhounds").

In December of 1966, his unit was deployed to Vietnam during the tail end of the Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase II. As Company Commander, Pitts led his Wolfhounds on countless multi-battalion airmobile assaults during Operations Manhattan, Barking Sands, Kolekole, Diamond Head, Oahu, and Santa Fe.

While conducting a search-and-destroy mission in South Vietnam's Iron Triangle region near the Cambodian border, his unit came under attack immediately after landing. Pitts directed his men to reinforce another company under fire from multiple directions. As they moved north, they were stopped in their tracks by NVA machine guns. Pitts threw a grenade to try to destroy one of the enemy positions, but it hit a tree and bounced back at him. Without hesitation, he threw himself on top of it to shield his squad from the explosion, but it turned out to be a dud and failed to detonate.

Despite the increasing ferocity of the battle, Pitts got back up and retrieved an M79 grenade launcher from one of his fallen men. He took aim at the enemy position and pulled the trigger, but the weapon misfired. Unfazed, Pitts threw the M79 on the ground, grabbed his rifle, and repositioned his company so fire support could be called in. When the artillery barrage ended, he rallied his men and continued to lead the attack. As they advanced to a location where they could place effective assault and neutralize the NVA machine gun bunkers, Pitts was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

The sight of their fearless leader on the ground did not break their spirit, but instead transformed them into men of will. His Wolfhounds continued forward and fired on the enemy positions until the NVA machine guns were silenced. When the smoke cleared, Pitts' men carried their Hero off the battlefield. He was flown back to the United States and laid to rest at Hillcrest Memory Gardens in Spencer, Oklahoma.


For his service, he earned a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Silver Star, and made his way into the history books as the first Black officer to be awarded the Medal of Honor.


Rest easy, Hero! Til Valhalla, Brother!