Russell N. Pitts

Colonel Russell N. Pitts was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 4 August 1954, class number 59. His first duty assignment was as Rifle Platoon Leader, Company C, 508 ARTC, 508th Regimental Combat Team; Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Instructor in Towers Group, USAIS, Airborne Dept, Fort Benning, GA; Inf Plat Leader, 5th Inf Division, Augsburg, Germany; Inf Company XO, Commander, Division Honor Guard Company, 5th Inf Division, Augsburg, Germany; Marksmanship Instructor & Co XO, 5th Inf Division, Fort Ord, CA; Avn Plat Ldr & Aviation company XO, Aviation Co, 9th Inf Div, Fort Carson, Colo; Flight Instructor, Asst Operations Off, Avn Co, 9th Inf Div, Fort Carson, Colo; Airfield Operations Officer, Avn Co, 9th Inf Div, Fort Carson, Colo; Maintenance Officer, I Corps, Avn Sect, Korea; Asst Secretary, Aide-de-Camp to Corps C.G., General Staff, Headquarters, I U.S. Corps, Korea; Helicopter Flight Instructor, Fixed-wing Instruction Flight Commander, Fixed Wing Department Operations Office, USA Aviation School, Fort Rucker, AL; Mech Inf Company Commander, 1/51 Inf Bn, 4th Armored Division, Ulm, Germany; Bde Staff, S-1, 1st Brigade, 4th AD, Ulm, Germany; Commander, 2d, Aviation Company, Verdun, France; Commander, 2d Aviation Company, Verdun, France; Brigade Aviation Officer, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Vietnam; Bde Avn Off, 3d Bde, 1st Cav Div, Vietnam; Battalion Commander, Warrant Officer Candidate Battalion, USA Primary Helicopter Center/School, Fort Wolters, Tex; Corps Aviation Officer, Headquarters, VII, U.S. Corps, Stuttgart, Germany; Staff Off, Joint Exercises Division, Project Off, Headquarters Ailed Forces Central Europe; Deputy Depot Commander, USA Korea Support Command, Camp Carrol Army Depot, Korea; Chief, Plans & Operations division Headquarters, USA Training and Doctrine Command; Aviation Officer, TRADOC, Headquarters, USA Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia. | His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal w/V device and 8 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster; Good Conduct Medal; Army of Occupation Medal-Germany; National Defense Service Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal-Korea; Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Service Stars; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 device; Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm; Combat Infantryman Badge.