"Try to imagine 700 guns firing at the same time," said Navarro. "You couldn't even hear yourself think. You're just fighting for your life."
Retired Sergeant Major Fred Navarro will never forget the details surrounding April 11, 1966. His Army unit was pinned down and taking heavy fire in a vast jungle near Saigon, Vietnam. Navarro was shot during the firefight and ultimately saved by U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper and medic William Pitsenbarger.
Pitsenbarger was lowered down by helicopter into the battle to aid the wounded. Navarro remembers his brief interactions with his rescuer vividly. After tending to Navarro, he left to help others and would return sporadically to drop off extra ammunition to soldiers like him still waiting for extraction. When the fighting got worse, Pitsenbarger gave his pistol to Navarro in exchange for his rifle. He also took off his flak vest and laid it on top of him before laying two dead bodies over him as a shield from the gunfire.
Pitsenbarger was killed in battle that day, and Navarro was rescued.
"I think he must have done it because he wanted me to live and that's why I'm here today, because of airman Pitsenbarger," said Navarro. "The pararescue motto is, 'So Others May Live.' He knew what was going on. He was off that day and volunteered to come out anyway."
Navarro never forgot the man who saved his life. He served in the U.S. Army for the next 28 years. After he retired, he drove a school bus for North East ISD for 16 years. His wife, Annette, also works in the NEISD Transportation Department. On Thursday, Sept. 26, Navarro shared his story with JROTC cadets at LEE High School.
Cadet James Gustin aspires to be a combat medic in the Navy or Army one day. He says Navarro's words made a powerful impact on him.
"We're so lucky to have a man of this caliber coming here to talk to us about his experiences," said Gustin. "The mission of JROTC is to motivate young people to become better citizens, and Mr. Navarro is a model citizen and a model American. If we tried to follow his example, we'd all be a lot better off."
Soon, audiences around the world will witness the heroics of William Pitsenbarger in the feature film, "The Last Full Measure." Navarro helped bring Pitsenbarger's heroic actions to light, resulting in his posthumous Medal of Honor in 2000.
