Mike in Vietnam
MICHAEL G. PITTS
Michael G. Pitts was born in Brooklyn, NY, on June 27, 1934. After graduating from high school, he entered the United States Marine Corps in February, 1953, attending recruit training at Parris Island, S.C., and advanced infantry training at Camp Pendleton, CA., He was then assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, where he served as a field wireman with the 12th Marines at Camp McNair, Japan until November, 1954.
Following a tour of duty as a communications NCO with the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC, he completed Marine Embassy Guard School and was assigned to Bern, Switzerland, where he served for 28 months.
Returning to the 2d Marine Division, he received a lateral transfer to the Public Information field and was assigned as the NCOIC of the Division’s PAO office Radio/TV section at Camp Lejeune. During this tour he attended the U.S. Navy School of Journalism at Great Lakes, Ill., finishing first in a class of 46 students.
Following a tour with the 5th Marine Corps District in Washington, D.C., then SSgt Pitts served for 12 months as combat correspondent in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was commissioned a 2d lieutenant in July, 1966. Returning to the United States, he was assigned as Press Officer in the Division of Information at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, where he served until June 1969. He returned to Vietnam for another 13-month tour of duty, serving as Detachment Commander and Network News Officer with the American Forces Vietnam Network.
In July 1970, then Captain Pitts was assigned to the Public Affairs Office in Quantico, VA, where he served as Assistant Officer-in-Charge until his retirement from the Marine Corps in September 1972.
Following his Marine Corps career, Pitts worked for thirteen years as a news writer/editor at the Voice of America Broadcasting Service in Washington, D.C. and for the next fourteen years as Security Shift Supervisor at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, VA. He and his wife moved to Lake of the Woods, Virginia in June 2000.
Pitts was three-time past National President of the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association; Past President of the USMCCCA’s Washington chapter; Life member, past president and past chief of the Dale City Va., Volunteer Fire Department; Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Member, American Legion; Member, Marine Mustang Association; Life Member, Marine Embassy Guard Association; and former EMT and State of Virginia Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Instructor.
His military medals and decorations include: The Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism, Jojnt Services Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V”, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and two awards of the Presidential Unit Citation.
Pitts has been married for more than 48 years to the former Sarah J. Peters of Philipsburg, PA. They have five children; Edward, of Warrenton, Va; Mark, of Lone Oak, Tx; Steve, of Dumfries, Va; Catherine of Phoenix, AZ; and Christopher of Garrison, Va.
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