European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                May 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Page 7 a Long journey ends at Pitts Way general spearheads Effort to name Road on Germany base after first Black medal of Honor recipient by Nancy Montgomery stars and stripes Germany he saw the portrait every the painting in the Stair Well the assured Captain now dead 40 years was one of the first faces he saw each morning when he got to the of and the last before he left at Dennis via read the captains How he had been awarded the country highest military medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity under fire in Vietnam on via thought about the company commanders bravery and but that not what really got to its the picture of his via i saw a very Young army a and she had those Young children that and in a Little room to the right of the showed president Johnson giving the medal of Honor to Eula the 30yearold widow of Riley with her two 5 and by her i would just won said com Mander of the 5th signal command and the married father of two How were they doing the old photograph reminded via of the Young widows and newly fatherless children in today he had his staff find the Pitts phone and one he overcame his hesitation and called them in it was As if i was talking with one of my we had a wonderful via said of his first Contact with Eula on at a ceremony with the schoolchildren and Mem Riley Pitts Bers of the american legion in the main Street just inside the Entrance to Funari Barracks was named Riley Pitts its not the first thing named for the Man As the first Black commissioned officer to be awarded the medal of Al ready had an assured place in an american legion troop and a building the 5th signal called Pitts Hall Are named after but the the new Street the the ceremony none of it could further consecrate Pitts via said in his quoting part of Abraham lincolns Gettysburg the idea was the whole message Here we dont via despite Many hours on an air plane from the Middle of the United Jet lag and 85degree the three members of the Pitts family looked but How were they doing now soon to turn Eula Pitts said it was hard going for some time after her husband was i was devastated for five she said during a reception with Coffee and i think i cried every Day for five she made it through the pain and lonely she with the help of her Hus bands with whom she stayed close in Oklahoma widowed at she never i think the main reason was these two Small children i she what their lives would and there were a number of women i knew who did not have Success Ful she her husband was difficult for any Man to measure up he was conspicuously Gallant and she he was like that most of the not Only on the Day he died so far from Home along with three of his but didst she miss having a husbands love and companionship Jonathon of the army a room in the 5th signal command Headquarters on Funari Barracks in holds a Small collection of military including this Case containing photographs and the medal of Honor Given to the family of Riley his children Stacie Pitts and Mark Pitts and his Eula travelled to Mannheim to take part in thursdays she you have to make choices in she her choices were successful ones for her both children Are married with children of their own and careers they is an executive at the coca cola in Stacie Pitts works in Mort Gage lending for Lowland moderate in come housing in Stacie Pitts Mcgill said she became More aware of her fathers As Well As his official status As a As she got at her Blue Bird groups father daughter she had to bring an and when she played she sometimes wished her father could have seen he want but i had an awful lot of she when Mark Pitts turned Down an appointment at the military Academy at West Point it was just not right for he said and his Uncle tried to change his mind during lengthy family his Mother supported being a heros son has always been some thing to be proud Mark Pitts its not what he would have id have him Here with he the Vietnam War didst turn out the Way the United states but that Doest make his fathers death less meaningful or he he has let it be known he believes the Iraq War was a and anytime i even think someones going to question my i the Pitts family gave at the we paid in email Nancy Montgomery at  or jays sensations Lei 00 973 1781 1370fax 00 973 1781 3553 email f Saab is celebrating the 60th anniversary 160 production slots available f up to 50 discount on certain options and packages 1save thousands on your loaded Saab f for a limited period first first served f Saab map often never bettered