Veteran Spotlight
by Richard D. L. Fulton
Pfc. Charles R. Pittinger
KIA at Quang Nam
Charles Robert Pittinger, of Thurmont, was born on November 8, 1948, to parents Charles E. and Edna Smith Pittinger.
At the time of his death, Pittinger had two brothers and two sisters, whose names had been provided in the November 26, 1969, edition of The (Frederick) News as having been John Pittinger, Larry Pittinger, Ann Marie Pittinger, and Mrs. Marvin Stambaugh.
Pittinger attended Thurmont High School. He graduated in 1967 and was employed at the East End Filling Station in Thurmont.
Pittinger was subsequently drafted into the United States Marine Corps on April 1, 1969, and, upon being drafted, Pittinger received his basic training. Upon completion, he was then assigned as a rifleman to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force. He held the rank of private first class.
The 5th Marine Regiment was also known as the “Fighting Fifth,” and, to date, is the most decorated regiment in the Marine Corps. According to usmcu.edu., “The 5th Marines spent five years in Vietnam between 1966–71, much of that time based in a small, remote village called An Hoa in the province of Quang Nam in central South Vietnam.”
Pittinger’s tour of duty commenced on September 27, 1969, at which time he joined his unit in the Quang Nam Province. Having been deployed for only six weeks at that time, Pittinger was struck and killed on November 17, 1969, by shrapnel caused by an exploding artillery round that had been fired by enemy troops. He was killed nine days after his 21st birthday.
The (Frederick) News reported in an article published on November 20, 1949, that Pittinger was killed by shrapnel while he was on night duty, guarding a Marine bunker. In the November article, The News identified the location of Pittinger’s death as having occurred in the “Kuang-Am.” In an article by The News published on November 26, it was stated that he was killed in the “Kuang-Nam Province.”
However, it would appear that “Kuang-Am” apparently doesn’t exist, and “Kuang Nam Province” was almost certainly just a misspelling of Quang Nam Province.
The News reported on November 20, 1949, that Pittinger’s parents were informed of his death on November 19, additionally stating that he was the 29th Vietnam casualty “from this area.”
According to the newspaper, the total number of Americans killed, as of the dateline of this particular issue of The News, had then amounted to 39,442.
Funeral services were conducted on November 28 for Pittinger by the Reverand Arthur Wood at the Creager Funeral Home in Thurmont. A full-military service was conducted for the fallen soldier by U.S. Marines from Fort Meade, at the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, in Frederick.
On the first anniversary of Pittinger’s death, his family published an “In Memoriam” in the November 17, 1970 edition of The (Frederick) News, which read;
His Message
“Come to my Heavenly garden,
And see, in perfect bloom,
The flower you loved so dearly,
And thought I plucked too soon.
Though you will know my reason,
Though you know it not today,
Why in his promising manhood,
I took your son away.”
Pittinger was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. In addition, the Trolley Trail footbridge in Thurmont was dedicated, and signage unveiled, to honor PFC Charles Pittinger.
The Vietnam War ran steadily from 1955 to 1975. An estimated one to three million people died during the course of that war, including over 58,000 American service members.
Pfc. Charles R. Pittinger
