Riley L. Pitts | |
|---|---|
 Pitts in uniform, c. 1966 | |
| Birth name | Riley Leroy Pitts |
| Born | October 15, 1937 Fallis, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | October 31, 1967 (aged 30) Ap Dong, Republic of Vietnam |
| Buried | Hillcrest Memory Gardens, 35°31′30.0″N 97°18′3.0″W / 35.525000°N 97.300833°WSpencer, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1960–1967 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | Company C, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division |
| Campaigns |
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| Awards | |
| Alma mater | Wichita State University (BA) |
| Spouse(s) | Eula Mae Pitts |
| Children | 2 |
Riley Leroy Pitts (October 15, 1937 – October 31, 1967) was a United States Army captain and the first African-American officer to receive the Medal of Honor.[1] The medal was presented posthumously by President Lyndon B. Johnson on December 10, 1968 for actions in Ap Dong, Republic of Vietnam.
- ^ "First Negro Officer Gets Medal of Honor". The New York Times. December 11, 1968. p. 3. (as transcribed in "Congressional Medal of Honor" sub-section of "Those Who Served" section of "African American Involvement in the Vietnam War" website; (original article at: New York Times archive)