AHERO Summer 2021 | Page 26

IN SERVICE TO THEIR NATION

United States Marine Corps ( Ret .) Lieutenant General Charles H . Pitman

TUSMC LtGen Charles (“ Chuck ”) H . Pitman ( Ret ), 84 , of Fort Worth , Texas , passed away on Thursday , February 13 , 2020 , at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth . His loving family was by his side , including his widow , Shaunee ( Smith ) Pitman , who subsequently passed away on July 11 , 2021 .
Born in Evanston , Illinois , on October 20 , 1935 , he was adopted at four months by Anita Schnurr Pitman ( O ’ Brien ) and Carol Latshaw Pitman , both deceased . He joined the Navy at age 17 , becoming a pilot for the United States Marine Corps and accruing a brilliant career as a Marine . His widow , Shaunee ( Smith ) Pitman , passed away on July 11 , 2021 . Surviving LtGen Pitman are his children , Charles Jr ., Mary Palmer ( Jeff ), Thomas , and Nancy Tebell ( Carl ); also grandchildren Dawn Davis , Bill Pitman , Jennifer Tyre , Charles ( Charley ) Tebell and Margaret ( Maggie ) Tebell ; and great-grandchildren Olivia Davis , Jasmine Pitman , and Ryan Pitman . LtGen Pitman is also survived by the mother of his children , Lorraine ( Jacques ) Pitman .
He had recently discovered his birth parents , Edward C . Waterbury and Bernice A . ( Pye ) Waterbury , both deceased . He connected with his surviving sister , Helen Graham , and learned of his deceased sister , Shirley Koster . He is also survived by Lawrence Pye , an uncle ( 93 ).
Chuck & Shaunee Pitman , together in life .
Donations can be sent in the name of LtGen Charles “ Chuck ” Pitman to : The Gary Sinise Foundation
Sgt Forrest Holt , USMC ( Ret ), reflects on the incident in which he managed to pull LtGen Pitman from a burning helicopter crash during the Vietnam War .
“ As we moved Shawnee Pitman ’ s belongings , two thoughts came to my mind one as a prayer and the other as an observation .
The Prayer : Dear God whatever you have in mind for me please do not let me lose the memory that I was a Marine , no matter whatever other trials are ahead .
The Cpl J . R . Spears Det 066 honors LtGen Pitman as part of the Heroes Among Us speakers series in May 2021 .
The Observation : The passing of Shawnee Pitman is the end of an era and our last connection with the General , our Godfather .”
~ Ed Rouse , Cpl J . R . Spears Det . 066 , MCL
26 AHERO MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021