SFC (R) RALPH L. PITMON
Ralph Pitmon was born in Lando, SC, and enlisted in the Army on July 16,
1947. He served honorably until discharged on May 27, 1949. On October
10, 1950 he reentered the Army and continued to serve his country until
his retirement from active duty on November 30, 1970.
During his 22 years
on active duty, he moved through the ranks from Private to Sergeant
First Class and worked a variety of jobs with the primary being in the
General Supply Field and Army Band.
His stateside duty stations
included Fort McPherson, GA, Fort Belvoir, VA, Little Creek Amphibious Base,
Norfolk, VA and finally Fort Lee, VA. While assigned to the School of Music
from 1964-1967, he was recognized for his dedication to Soldiers during the
transfer of the school from the Washington, DC area to the Little Creek
Amphibious Base. While at Little Creek he worked diligently with Fort Eustis
and Fort Story personnel to assure all logistical and transportation procedures
were efficiently and expeditiously performed.
SFC Pitmon’s military
career is a perfect example of supporting Quartermaster Soldiers and he
demonstrated this time and again with his assignment starting with 7809th
Army Unit; Company D, US Army Engineer Center, and culminating at Fort Lee as an
instructor in the 4th Quartermaster Battalion.
His overseas assignment
included Schofield Barracks, HI; Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Pusan, Korea; and in
Vietnam.
SFC Pitmon’s military
awards included Army Commendation Medal, 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster, the
Bronze Star Medal for service in Vietnam; the SM-VN Counteroffensive Phase
III/IV/V and TET Offensive; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/DEV
while serving as Supply Sergeant at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam.
Upon his retirement, SFC
Pitmon returned to serve the Army as a civilian military analyst and worked with
the Quartermaster School Directorate of Training and Doctrine, Collective
Training Branch and the Directorate of Evaluation and Standardization until
1991, where, after 41 years of combined military and civilian service to the
Army, he retired due to health issues.
Throughout his military and
civilian careers, SFC Pitmon was active in many Fraternal and Civic
organizations and many Religious Affiliations. He served as President, of Fort
Lee’s American Federation of Government Employees 1178; volunteered for the Red
Cross at Kenner Army Hospital, Fort Lee; and was an honorary member of Army
Logistics Management College’s staff and faculty. He also continued his
education and graduated from St Leo College. His fraternal organizations
included Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Gideon’s
International, South Beach Square and Compass Club RVN, Disabled American
Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, I00B, Hopewell Moose Lodge,
American Association of Retired Persons, NAMR, and NAUSAS. His civic
involvement included the VA Sheriff’s Institute and Petersburg Crime Solvers.
SFC Pitmon lived in
Petersburg and Colonial Heights until his death from heart failure November 19,
2000. His wife, Elefriede Anna Futshick Pitmon, and he raised five daughters of
which Margie Pitmon Strum is the benefactor of this scholarship. Mrs. Strum is
the second oldest daughter and is a dedicated Fort Lee civilian employee.
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