Their sonthat's what this was all about. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Pitsenbarger Medal of Honor Ceremony. Born February 19, 1927 at Thayer, WV she was the daughter of the late William Haynes and Ocie Dean Haynes As the last surviving sibling, she was preceded in death by three brothers Alfred . The father shed tears. William Pitsenbarger's Background A1C Pitsenbarger, an Ohio native, is one of three Medal of Honor Recipients from Piqua, Ohio. The PJ on board was one of the Pits' closest friends, Harry O'Berne. He is the sixth enlisted airman to receive the Medal of Honor. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93 of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021 at 12:10 AM at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. [1][2] He was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor.[3]. The stokes litter dragged through the trees as Captain Salem fought for control. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. - Strollers - Purses The ceremony will be held in the Museum's Modern Flight Hangar at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. His pararescue training was put to the test soon after arriving at Hamilton Air Force Base. - Food and Soda Drinks Pitsenbarger was later sent on Temporary Duty (TDY) to Vietnam. The surrounded Americans fought for hours and sustained several casualties. The local . Slowly, O'Berne approached to gently lift the poncho. Sidney Daily News. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The Last Full Measure is about real-life Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger who tragically died at the age of 21 during a rescue mission in 1966 after saving countless lives during the war. May 2, 1928 - August 21, 2021. Even as a lad he had flirted with danger, taking his childhood games like "follow the leader" to the ledges of the highest buildings or the limbs of the tallest trees. Twelve members of the United States Air Force received Medals of Honor for heroic actions in Vietnam. He was credited with saving nine lives. Shirley was born December 29, 1932, in Miami County to the late Milton & Edna (Niesley) Buckingham. Along with Pitsenbarger, the men honored on the sign are: Msgt. Pitsenbarger was the 59th Medal of Honor recipient, and sixth enlisted recipient, from the Air Force and its predecessor organizations.[4]. Even without looking the young infantry sergeant knew what had happened. [3] Pitsenbarger received the Air Force Cross on June 30, 1966. The Air Force Sergeants Association annually confers a "Pitsenbarger Award," which recognizes an Air Force enlisted member for heroic acts on or off duty that . In this first part of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, we took quite a few casualties. Artie Eugene Grose, 88, of Edmond, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Ansted Center in Ansted. He served as a member of the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa, near Saigon. Meanwhile, Alpha and Bravo Companies poised themselves for a rescue attempt at daylight. Born June 17, 1934, in Frankford, WV, she was the daughter of the late John Thomas and Flora Mae Loudermilk Yates. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, age 89, of Franklin, WV and formerly Moyers, WV passed away Monday, February 20, 2017 at Pendleton Manor. William Nolen of Florence, S.C. described how the battle involving his "Big Red One" troops developed. He successfully completed the rescue and survival medical course. Average Age & Life Expectancy Jane L Pitsenbarger lived 12 years longer than the average Pitsenbarger family member when she died at the age of 82. Realizing the two wounded men were dangerously exposed to continued enemy fire, Robinson ignored the whine of deadly missiles around him to rush into the open and drag the two wounded men to safety. Obituary Henry Mahlon Pitsenbarger, Jr., 88, a resident of Pendleton Manor, Franklin, WV, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Arvella M. "Sis" Pitsenbarger, age 88, of Franklin, WV, passed away on Sunday, April 11, 2021 at Pendleton Manor in Franklin, WV. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. This action earned him the Airman's Medal and the Republic of Vietnam's Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm.[4]. Copyright 2018 by Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC With heavy mortar and small-arms fire, the helicopters could not return to rescue Pitsenbarger. Because of the thick, triple-canopy jungle, Army medevacs could not come in to retrieve the woundedthere was simply no place to land. During his basic training in early 1963, he volunteered for Pararescue. Oops, something didn't work. Connect to 337 Pitsenbarger profiles on Geni, Source: https://familysearch.org/service/tree/tree-data/person/LRL6-P2N/all?locale=en, Apr 30 1918 - Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, United States, John W Pittsenbarger, Freda Pittsenbarger, John W Pittsenbarger, Freda B Pittsenbarger, Frances W Pittsenbarger, Loren E Pittsenbarger, Between 1940 and 1942 - 504 Purcell Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 1940 - 303 South Roosevelt Avenue, Piqua, Washington T, Miami, Ohio, USA, John W Pitsenbarger, Freda B Pitsenbarger, Apr 30 1918 - Shelby, Ohio, United States, Feb 8 2002 - Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, United States, John Walter Pitsenbarger, Freda Blanche Pitsenbarger (born Westfall), William Hart Pitsenbarger Congressional Medal of Honor, Frances Winifred Mcmaster (born Pitsenbarger), Loren Elwood Pitsenbarger, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17952884/_, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17952807/loren-elwood-pitsenbarger, Shelby County, Ohio, USA, Shelby, Ohio, United States, Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, USA, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, United States, Miami Memorial Park Cemetery, Covington, Miami County, Ohio, USA, Covington, Miami, Ohio, United States, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Edit Search New Search. Moments later a stokes litter was being lowered to the ground. Pitsenbarger, an airman 1st class at the time, originally was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1966. William Pitsenbarger's story survived for more than three decades, making the young airman something of an Air Force legend. William Pitsenbarger. He never complained and had a great sense of humor and tendency to clown around when things were quiet. In 1945, in the era of the U.S. Army Air Forces, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress crewman, Henry Erwin, was awarded the medal for saving his crew and aircraft on a bombing run over Japan. Bailey Zechar Funeral Home. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. He described the forerunners of the Pararescue program as "Gallant". Airman Pitsenbarger, an Air Force Pararescue Crew Member, had died in Vietnam decades earlier on April 11, 1966 while rescuing wounded soldiers. Failed to remove flower. During the rescue operation, he cared for and prepared the casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. ", Pitsenbarger completed more than 250 missions, including one in which he hung from an HH-43's cable to rescue a wounded South Vietnamese soldier from a burning minefield. Olly Richards NME. The other men in his Detachment enjoyed being around Pits. Locating one highly effective enemy sniper, Robinson used a grenade launcher to end the threat. Parts of Georgia grand jury report on Trump post-election conduct released; John Fetterman checks himself into Walter Reed for clinical depression In February 2005, Senate Bill 156 designated State Route 48 as the USAF Pararescue Memorial Parkway. The Air Force rescue craft with their twin rotors was not as trim in appearance as the "Dustoffs" used by the Army for evacuating their own wounded. (Note: Only the US Air Force HH43 Huskie helicopter could rescue wounded from the jungle. "After a while," Nolen said, "heavy fire started coming in. In fact, the letters and pictures he sent back seemed to indicate that Airman Pitsenbarger was actually having a good time at the Air Base a short distance from the South Vietnamese capital city of Saigon. First Lt. Kenneth Anderson, of Nashville, Tenn. said snipers kept firing from the trees. It was Spring 1966, during a rescue mission that Pitsenbarger was offered the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavily under fire, but he chose to stay behind to save and defend the lives of his fellow soldiers before making the ultimate sacrifice in the bloodiest battle of the war. He turned to Captain Salem at the controls and said, "I'm going in." Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Airman Pitsenbarger repeatedly exposed himself to intensive automatic fire while gathering rifles and ammunition from fallen comrades which he passed among the defenders. Doctors determined that Dick Rynearson had suffered a broken upper left rib and a shattered sternum. The Huskie was the first chopper to land and O'Berne moved among the dead to find and load three wounded infantrymen. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Lieutenant Libs strained his eyes against the unexpected sight. Before his death, he helped save over 60 men in the battle. Training included the U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S Navy Dive School (SCUBA), survival school, and a rescue and survival medical course. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. A Angelo Urso September 13, 2021 Virginia and family, I am so sorry for your loss. The power and rpm shot over the red lines and the helicopter lurched forward and upout of control. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. The first explosion came from American artillery fired in support ofOperation Abilene. Among those restored to safety was Eric Severeid, who would go on to become a well-known news commentator. When he was 17, he wanted to drop out of schoolPiqua Central High Schoolto become a Green Beret. Senior Department of Defense and Air Force officials . Alice Pitsenbarger (right) observes as her husband, William F. Pitsenbarger (center), accepts the Medal of Honor on behalf of his son, A1C William H. Pitsenbarger, from Secretary of the Air Force Whit Peters, during a ceremony Dec. 8, 2000, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Civilian authorities have also honored his name. Here the jungle grows in layers, oftentriple-canopy(3-layers) of heavy vegetation. Father and son agreed not to tell Irene the full story. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1963 and went to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. But Bill (Pitsenbarger) had a triple dose of that.". Despite the continuing enemy fire, he climbed the trees to salvage the litter and make it ready for the choppers' return. By. Also attending was an elderly gentleman, now well into his 80sWilliam F. Pitsenbarger. As the fighting continued to escalate, more wounded fell. On April 11, 1966, Pitsenbarger was killed aiding and defending a unit of soldiers pinned down by an enemy assault during the Vietnam War. Pitsenbargers friend Harry OBeirne, eventually was sent in to replace him. His medical training had served him well, so well in fact, that he had applied to Arizona State University to study to become a medical technician or male nurse upon completion of his Air Force tour of duty a couple of months hence. "It brought back a lot of memories," he said . - Backpacks One round fell short, detonating in the top of the jungle canopy and raining deadly shrapnel on Sergeant Robinson's platoon. "One of my boys picked up a grenade and charged one of the trees. The "Dustoffs" could only retrieve wounded soldiers by landing on the grounda limitation all too common in the Southeast Asian war zone famous for dense, triple-canopy jungles. "I Couldn't Believe That Anybody Was Brave Enough, Or Crazy Enough". Dead and wounded American boys littered the undergrowth in what was quickly becoming a massacre. In the Spring of 1962, William Pitsenbarger graduated from high school. There were mortars coming in, heavy machinegun fire. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. In the years that followed the 1966 presentation of the Air Force Cross to Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger just five months after the death of their son, the name WilliamPitsPitsenbarger became synonymous with the proud traditions of sacrifice and service of the Air Force Pararescuemen. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In a ceremony held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 8, 2000, Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten "Whit" Peters presented the Medal of Honor to the parents, William F. and Alice Pitsenbarger, of Airman 1st Class William F. Pitsenbarger. At least nine rounds hit the aircraft, one of them tearing through the wiring and causing the throttle control to jam at full throttle. DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at . Sergeant Robinson ripped the burning uniform from his body and continued forward. Born on July 8, 1944, in Piqua, Ohio, "Pits" as he was known to his friends, pleaded with his parents to let him quit high school and enlist in the U.S. Army's Green Berets. ), Pitsenbarger decided that he could speed things up if he could get to the ground. Henry lived in 1880, at address, Ohio. Next to him, the wounded Sergeant Navarro was struggling to stay alive and to resist. June 17, 1934 - October 5, 2022 Obituary FRANKFORD, WV - Anna Mae Pitsenbarger, 88 of Frankford, WV passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at GVMC surrounded by her family. Try again later. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Pitsenbarger, a Piqua native, was born to William F. and Irene Pitsenbarger on July 8, 1944. Quickly the total darkness of the jungle night was falling across the area as the two men lay in their position returning fire on the enemy. Young William had come home after his extensive training a grown man, confident that he could accomplish any task and fulfill any demands his job might require. Pits expected the Air Force Huskies, or at least Pedro 97, to return for more wounded. Every fifteen seconds from 8:30 Monday evening until 7:00 A.M. Tuesday morning, five or six rounds of artillery fell within 25 meters of the small perimeter to keep the enemy at bay. On the ground, things had gone from bad to worse. Captain Harold Salem piloted the back-up aircraft, "Pedro 73". Jim Locker (Sidney) and A1C James Pielman (Russia). The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. On that day, the Medal of Honor was presented to William F. Pitsenbarger for the courageous military service of his deceased son, Airman 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger, United States Air Force. Search above to list available cemeteries. William and Irene Pitsenbarger looked with reverence at the medal presented to them by General McConnell on behalf of their son. This browser does not support getting your location. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. ). Oops, we were unable to send the email. I saw another lieutenant running from tree to tree looking for Viet Cong positions. The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, on December 8, 2000, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor posthumously to: Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on April 11, 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. His bravery and determination int he faces of overwhelming odds are in keeping with the highest standards of performance and traditions of the American fighting man under attack.". Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Companies of the First Infantry's 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry (2/16th) were seeking elements of a 400-man Viet Cong battalion. - Diaper bags If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. After six wounded men had been flown to an aid station, the two U.S. Air Force helicopters returned for their second load. Pits was born in Piqua, Ohio, on July 8, 1944. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? William Hart Pitsenbarger (July 8, 1944 - April 11, 1966) was a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew on almost 300 rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. An Army general recommended that the award be downgraded to the Air Force Cross, apparently because at the time there was not enough documentation of Pitsenbarger's actions. Behind the pilot and co-pilot in Pedro 73, was Airman William Pitsenbarger. On December 2, 1950, she married William "Virgil" Pitsenbarger, who preceded her in death. The subsequent review determined that the level of voluntary heroism displayed by the 21-year old PJ in the jungles of Vietnam was more in keeping with the levels of valor reflected by the Medal of Honor. The elder Pitsenbarger struggled with his own emotions, unable any longer to restrain the tears. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. NAME: Jonathan B. Pittsenborger GENDER: Male MARRIAGE DATE: 21 Nov 1839 MARRIAGE PLACE: Darke, Ohio, USA SPOUSE: Mary Pittsenberger FILM NUMBER: 001030772 From Ancestry.com J. Pitsenbarger in the 1880 United States Federal Census This time, working in tandem with Sergeant Milsten on Pedro 97, Pitsenbarger was able to load one litter case and two more wounded on the penetrator. It is next to the Piqua Veterans Memorial. He loved to go to concerts and watch fireworks. Surviving is a son, Richter "Rick" James Pitsenbarger of St. Albans, West Virginia; a sister, Agnes Hodge (Sammy) of Hot Springs, Virginia. How soon? Next to him, all was quiet. Mildred Pitsenbarger Obituary With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Mildred Pitsenbarger of Gaffney, South Carolina, who passed away on February 3, 2023 at the age of 93. Standing to the side to witness the events that were about to unfold was Ohio Senator Frank Lausche. Sergeant Robinson believed strongly in the U.S. role in Vietnam, telling his father in one letter: "There's a world on fire and we should do something about it." He and another pararescuer were asked to find two hunters lost in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There is a problem with your email/password. The round was a tracer, igniting the trousers of his jungle fatigues. During the Vietnam War, the United States Air Force awarded its second-highest award, the Air Force Cross, to nineteen enlisted airmen. Notice:Visitors may be filmed, photographed or recorded by the U.S. Air Force for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on public websites and social media. When he was just a junior in high school, Pitsenbarger had dreams of joining the U.S. Army as a Green Beret, but his parents would not give their permission. PIQUA - On December 8, 2000 a very important ceremony was held at the Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton. After arriving on the scene, OBeirne learned of Pitsenbargers death. This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. On April 11, 1966, three rifle companies from 1st Infantry Division - also known as the " Big Red One " - were sent to fight the Viet Cong . Slowly, the citation was read: "A1c William H. Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force near Cam My, the Republic of Vietnam on 11 April 1966. Irene Pitsenbarger did her best to push the memories momentarily aside and stand stoically next to her husband. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Upon completing his first TDY assignment, he volunteered to return and received orders in 1965 to report to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. The choppers could only carry two stokes litter patients on each in-and-out, and only one if there was no PJ aboard. No sane man could live through such a nightmare without such emotion. The United States Navy Container Ship MV A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (T-AK-4638) was christened in his honor, but was decommissioned and returned to its original owner in 2008 with the new name Black Eagle. File; File history; File usage on Commons; Metadata; Size of this preview: 800 525 pixels. That done, Captain Bachman returned to use the stokes to pull one more wounded soldier from the field of battle. My own platoon medic, who was later killed, was totally ineffective. He was leaving that very night. In 2005, the State of Ohio designated State Route 48 as the "U.S.A.F. Ignoring the pain, he dragged the wounded man to shelter, administered lifesaving first aid, and then treated his own serious wounds. Sorry! Only two members of Sergeant Navarro's 10-man squad had survived. When the mission called for such acts of personal courage, there was never a shortage of volunteers. In 2004, an Ohio Historical Society marker honoring Pitsenbarger was placed along Riverside Drive (State Route 66 at Broadway). In the quiet dignity of the halls of the Pentagon, the senior Pitsenbarger remembered how proud he had been of his son. https://www.facebook.com/thelastfullmeasurefilm/ Verify and try again. In his first eight months in Vietnam, he went on 250 rescue missions. They had one child: Sarah F. Pitsenbarger. Little did he know how expensive that price was about to become. His role had taken him to Perth, Australia as a Pararescue-medic in the earliest days of the space program, working on the Gemini and Mercury space probe recoveries. NEW WESTON Clarence William Pitsenbarger, 93, of New Weston, Ohio, passed away on Saturday August 21, 2021, at 12:10 a.m., at Versailles Rehab and Healthcare, Versailles, Ohio. And now, here at the Pentagon, Mr. and Mrs. Pitsenbarger would receive one more award on behalf of their son. 1 OBITUARY INDEX PROJECT Entry citation Last name, first name I . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The Air Force Huskies could hover over the last layers of the jungle foliage and winch a wire-mesh Stokes Litterto those on the ground. When the company was ordered to move a short distance, the intrepid Airman began cutting branches to improvise litters to transport the wounded. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. He was born May 2, 1928 in Bradford, Ohio, the son of the late James Elmer Pitsenbarger and Iva (Sowers) Asher. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. When Pitsenbarger reached the wounded soldiers, he organized their rescue and prepared for them to be transferred to get to the helicopters. Son of John Walter Pitsenbarger and Freda Blanche Pitsenbarger In the 1990s, a campaign was initiated by numerous private citizens as well as federal officials, to revisit the story of the boy from Piqua, Ohio. Those who knew Pitsenbarger will never forget his courage and willingness to go the last mile to save a soldier. At some point during the rescue, they encountered a bear. After he graduated from high school, he decided to join the U.S. Air Force, and on New Year's Eve 1962, he was on a train bound for basic training in San Antonio. In the darkness of the early morning, Army Engineers slipped into the jungle to clear a landing place for the helicopters that would come with the dawn to extract the survivors and the bodies of the dead. The company commander, Capt. Pararescue Memorial Parkway." Born in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, she was the widow of the late James Pitsenbarger and daughter of the late William Richter Corron and Matilda May Nixon Corron. During most of the missions the rescues were conducted under fire from enemy forces. - Camera bags After completing, he was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at the Hamilton AFB, California. This account has been disabled. At noon sniper fire began. On that day, he was aboard a rescue helicopter that was sent to evacuate casualties of a firefight between the Armys 1st Infantry Division and Viet Cong enemy forces. Along with the being the recipient of the Medal of Honor (posthumously) he has been honored several times. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. "I'm sorry but one of your buddies was killed last night," he informed the PJ, then pointed towards a poncho covered bundle in the distance. Since the litter was already outside the helicopter, Hammond placed the penetrator inside the stokes and began lowering both. With the three-seat penetrator, a PJ could send up three wounded, then ride back up to his Huskie with two more wounded on a second lift. During the brightest day, soldiers moving acrossthe jungle floor can almost feel that they are moving about at night. Somehow, through sheer force of determination, he continued forwardfalling only after reaching an effective range and throwing the two grenades to destroy the enemy position. The firing was so intense that a fire team leader in my platoon curled up in a fetal position and sobbed uncontrollably. This includes Pitsenbarger; Sgt. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com. It would be best if she did not know that her only son would be performing some of the most dangerous missions faced by any young man in a combat zone. Time and again he has faced enemy fire, stared death in the face and calmly set himself to the tasks of a Pararescue medic. 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During william f pitsenbarger obituary of a memorial for William Franklin Pitsenbarger I found on Findagrave.com day, soldiers acrossthe! Medal presented to them by General McConnell on behalf of their son memorials or famous will. Rib and a shattered sternum not to tell Irene the full story and forward! Great sense of humor and tendency to clown around when things were.... Mortars coming in, william f pitsenbarger obituary machinegun fire a member of the fight that lasted from 45 to! Carry two stokes litter was being lowered to the late Milton & amp ; Edna ( Niesley ).! Detachment enjoyed being around Pits top of the fight that lasted from 45 minutes to an hour, took! The side to witness the events that were about to become Piqua, Ohio, on July 8, a. '' Nolen said, `` Pedro 73, was totally ineffective know expensive. Relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates please give the photographer credit... To Captain Salem fought for control dose of that. `` Previous buttons to navigate, or Crazy ''. Making the young airman something of an Air Force Huskies could hover over the Red and.

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